The upcoming marriage between Lionel Messi and his childhood pal Antonella Roccuzzo is set to unite the top names in international football in Messi’s hometown of Rosario, Argentina on June 30th.
The owner of 5 Golden Balls showcased his sophistication by hosting a lavish wedding party for 250 VIP guests, complete with a buffet offering a variety of delectable dishes. It is anticipated that Messi’s Barcelona teammates, including Neymar, Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, and Sergio Busquets, will all attend the wedding. Former Barca captains Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol have also confirmed their presence at the event. Reports from Argentine media suggest that football legend Diego Maradona may also make an appearance on the guest list. Interestingly, Messi did not extend invitations to anyone from Barcelona’s leadership team, including former coach Luis Enrique and his assistant Juan Carlos Unzue. Moreover, defender Gerard Pique is unlikely to attend the celebration due to reported tensions between his wife Shakira and Messi’s bride, Antonella.
Shakira is reportedly upset with Antonella for causing a rift between her good friend Nuria Tomas and Pique. Unfortunately, fans hoping to see Cristiano Ronaldo at Messi’s wedding will be let down as he is occupied with the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. In lieu of traditional gifts, guests at the wedding were requested to donate to Messi’s charity fund, aimed at assisting underprivileged children worldwide.
After finding a cozy spot for his loved ones, the Argentine soccer icon is expected to head back to Spain to finalize a contract extension with Barcelona that will keep him at the club until 2022. The deal would see his salary skyrocket to a whopping 22 million euros per season after taxes, solidifying his status as the highest paid player on the planet. This summer seems to have brought a wave of love to the football world, as players like Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann, Phil Jones, and Matteo Darmian tied the knot, while Granit Xhaka and Memphis Depay celebrated their engagements.
