Hours after Lionel Messi announced his definitive retirement from the Argentina National Team, his wife Antonela Roccuzzo posted a message on Instagram that touched millions of fans around the world.
The post, which accumulated over 4.2 million likes and nearly 50,000 comments, began with a phrase that said it all: "What a pride to see you close this chapter like this @leomessi."
In an intimate and personal tone, Antonela reflected on two decades of history from a perspective that only she knows: that of someone who has been by their side through every moment, both good and bad. "There were so many years, so many moments, so much joy and also so many setbacks. I saw you suffer, fall, and get back up. I saw you keep going when things didn't work out and always try again," she wrote.
But the heart of the message was occupied by his three sons: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. "There is something about this whole story that especially moves me: that our children have grown up witnessing it up close. That they have seen their dad fight for what he wanted, not give up, and continue to believe until the end," he noted.
And he added: “Maybe someday they will truly understand the significance of your story. Today, they are simply proud of their dad.”
The post was accompanied by five family images that created a visual narrative as powerful as the words: Messi embracing his children in the stadium wearing the uniform of the Argentine Football Association, the three kids walking down a hallway in jerseys with the number 10 and the last name "Messi" on the back, one of them wearing a personalized shirt that said "Dad 10," and the little ones kissing the World Cup.
Antonela closed the message with a declaration of love and pride that summed it all up: "And I am proud of you. Of your journey, of everything you've overcome, and, above all, of the person who was behind each of those moments. What a privilege it has been to experience all of this by your side. We love you infinitely."
The announcement from Messi was filled with emotion and sorrow. The letter had been drafted on July 21, two days after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, but the star waited until Monday to publish it. At the bottom, he added a note that explained everything: "Today, after what happened with my dad, I am more convinced than before," referring to the passing of Jorge Messi on August 8 at the age of 68 in Rosario.
It was not the first time Antonela publicly supported her husband during the challenging moments of this cycle. Following the defeat in the final against Spain, she had already written "You will always be the best," and weeks later she said a heartfelt goodbye to her father-in-law in another message that touched her followers.
Messi bids farewell to the Albiceleste with 125 goals in 207 matches, as Argentina's all-time leading scorer, and with four titles: the Copa América 2021, the Finalissima 2022, the World Cup in Qatar 2022, and the Copa América 2024. The announcement of his retirement from the national team marks the end of a 20-year chapter that, in Antonela's own words, was «a privilege» to experience from the inside.
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