Lionel Messi had three very important fans cheering him on when Argentina beat France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup: his sons Mateo, Thiago, and Ciro.

After the game, the soccer hero, who scored two goals in the intense game, shared a nice moment with two of his children, who grabbed him in a hug while wearing jerseys with their father’s name and number (10) on the back. Antonella Roccuzzo, their younger brother and mother, soon joined them, and she later uploaded several wonderful images from the family celebration.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” Roccuzzo captioned a photo album of herself, Messi, and their three sons. “We are very proud of you, @leomessi.” Thank you for teaching us to never give up, to fight to the finish IT WAS FINALLY DONE YOU ARE A WORLD CHAMPION, we know what you went through for so many years, what you wanted to achieve!!!”

Messi and Roccuzzo, childhood friends who reconnected in 2005, had their first child, Thiago, in 2012. Mateo, their second son, was born in 2015, and Ciro, their third son, was born in 2018.

The sportsman then told FC Barcelona that being a father transformed his entire outlook. “You grow and learn,” he explained in 2017. “You gain life experience in all aspects, on and off the field.” But, as a human being, having three children altered my outlook on life, my way of thinking, and helped me evolve.”

Despite the fact that this was not Messi’s first World Cup, he told reporters that the experience was even more special because his children are mature enough to “enjoy it more.”

“From the very beginning, from kick-off to the final whistle, I’m thinking of my children,” he stated after defeating Australia in the round of 16 in the World Cup, according to The Athletic. “They are getting older. They have a greater understanding of what is going on and enjoy it more.”

Although Messi has stated that he wants his sons to “do what makes them happy,” whether or not that involves soccer, it is apparent that his offspring are already following in their talented father’s footsteps. Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro have not only spent much of their lives growing up on the field cheering for Messi, but all three of the lads are emerging soccer stars in their own right. The boys’ best lessons, however, are likely to come from their father, as Messi occasionally uploads recordings of him and his sons competing in friendly matches.

Here’s everything you need to know about Lionel Messi’s three sons from his marriage to Antonella Roccuzzo.

Roccuzzo, Thiago Messi, 11

Messi and Roccuzzo became parents for the first time on November 2, 2012, when their son Thiago was born. Messi got his newborn son’s name and handprints tattooed on his calf shortly after his birth to show off his affection for him in a permanent way.

Messi has been candid about Thiago’s influence on his life, saying El Periódico in 2013 that “my son has changed my life more than the Ballon d’Or [awards] have.”

After becoming a father, the soccer star’s objectives shifted: “When I look at life, think about each moment, when I evaluate every circumstance… Everything is different now.”

Despite his high-profile job, Messi’s life off the field is similar to that of any other parent, as he noted in a 2016 Sports Illustrated column.

“A typical day involves taking Thiago to school, going to training, hanging out at home drinking maté and spending time with Anto and the kids at the park or somewhere,” he went on to say. “It’s a normal, calm life, the kind of life we have always wanted.​”

Thiago gave a wonderful gesture of support for his father by penning down the lyrics to “Muchachos Ahora Nos Volvimos an Ilusionar,” as shown on his mother’s Instagram post, ahead of Messi’s World Cup victory in 2022. According to ESPN, the song has become Argentina’s unofficial anthem during the World Cup and is a personal favorite of Messi.

Thiago, now 11, began playing soccer at an early age and was previously a part of Barcelona’s academy, where Messi played from 2004 to 2021. A video of Thiago scoring a goal during his debut match with the team went viral in February 2020, and fans soon labeled him a young protégé. He presently plays for Inter Miami’s under-12 team after previously playing for the Paris Saint-Germain academy.

Roccuzzo, Mateo Messi, 8

Mateo, Messi and Roccuzzo’s second child, was born on September 11, 2015.

“Mateo is very special, he’s always doing new things, things that grab your attention,” Messi stated of his middle son in a 2019 interview.

While Messi describes Thiago as the “calm” sibling, he believes Mateo is more competitive than him. “Mateo is the same as I was when I was little, he doesn’t like to lose anything,” Messi said Argentian journalist Sebastián Vignolo.

Though Mateo enjoys winning, Messi does not give his sons easy victories when they play soccer together – in fact, Roccuzzo had to tell him to “let the kids win” in a comical Instagram video she shared in April 2022.

Mateo’s competitive nature extends to his father’s soccer career. Mateo fled the stadium crying after Messi and his team were humiliated by Saudi Arabia in November, according to the athlete. “My family suffer the same as all Argentines, but we are happy and we get comfortable again because now our progress depends on us,” he went on to say.

Roccuzzo paid tribute to Mateo on Instagram on his 8th birthday. “We love you infinitely Matu 8 years of stealing hearts,” she said in Spanish, alongside a few amusing Mateo photos.

5 Ciro Messi Roccuzzo

On March 10, 2018, Ciro, Messi, and Roccuzzo welcomed their third child.

Messi has Ciro’s name and birth date tattooed on his calf, along with the names of his brothers, and Roccuzzo has “Ciro” inked on her arm.

Ciro, according to Messi, is still building his personality. However, he is already modeling himself after his older brother. “He a lot copies Mateo, and they go against me a lot,” Messi stated in October 2022.

Messi told Sports Illustrated that the births of his three sons were “life changing” when Ciro was only eight months old. “I’m overjoyed with the family we’ve been able to create,” he said in an essay for the publication.

However, there was one major goal he was still aiming for at the time: “Of course, nothing would make me happier outside of my family than to win my first World Cup with Argentina in 2018,” he wrote.

He would go on to win his first World Cup four years later, with all three of his boys by his side.

Roccuzzo celebrated the boy’s fifth birthday with a nice Instagram picture on March 10, 2023. She uploaded a current snapshot of Ciro sporting a #10 soccer jersey, as well as a childhood photo of him. “Para siempre nuestro Bebé,” she captioned the photo, which translates as “Forever our baby.”