Lionel Messi and his parents, Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini.Photo:Jorge Messi Instagram
Jorge Messi Instagram
Lionel Messi’s parents, Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, played a pivotal role in shaping their son’s career. With their unwavering support, Lionel has become one of the greatest players in soccer history.
The Argentinian athlete, who was born in 1987, has won arecord-setting eight Ballon d’Or trophies, which is considered the most prestigious individual soccer award. Hisextensive trophy casealso includes 10 LaLiga titles, four UEFA championships, six European Golden Shoes and a gold medal from the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.
His proud dad and mom have cheered him on every step of the way, but for them, the accolades are secondary to their son’s character.
He continued, “Of course as he’s triumphed in the sport of soccer we are proud of him, but what we care about most is that he’s a good person: [We] are all proud of him for that. His success elsewhere is a consequence of who he is.”
From growing their family to supporting their son’s career, here’s everything to know about Lionel Messi’s parents, Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini.
Jorge and Celia share four children
Lionel Messi, Rodrigo Messi, Matias Messi and Maria Sol Messi.Jorge Messi Instagram
In addition to Lionel, Jorge and Celia are the parents of older sons, Rodrigo and Matías, and a daughter, María Sol.
Though they have a famous brother, Lionel’s siblings prefer to remain out of the spotlight.
Lionel and his mom are close
Lionel Messi and his mom Celia Cuccittini.Lionel Messi Instagram
Lionel Messi Instagram
Jorge and Celia initially moved their family to Spain when Leo started his career in Barcelona. Eventually, though, she returned to Argentina with his three siblings, leaving Leo with Jorge.
Celia’s departure left the future superstar despondent, who has shared that he often cried at night when he was alone, and it was also a difficult time for Leo’s dad.
“Leo needs his mother, and I needed to see my daughter,” Jorge explained in an interview withSports Illustratedin 2010. “The first three years Leo saw his mother only every four months.”
“It was very tough for me,” Lionel added. “There were moments when I was really sad and homesick, but I never thought of leaving. I knew I wanted to stay and keep playing.”
Throughout his career, Leo has found creative ways to honor his mother, no matter how costly. In 2011, the prolific forward wasfined and given a yellow cardfor lifting his jersey in front of a camera to reveal an undershirt with the handwritten words, “Feliz cumple mami!” (which translates to “Happy birthday mommy!")
Lionel paid tribute to Celia with a tattoo
A tattoo of his mom is seen on Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s back following a training session at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on September 5, 2011.MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty
MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty
Lionel’s left foot is legendary, but his body art is also an attention grabber. The iconic footballer’s tattoos include his famous No. 10 on his shin and the names and birthdates of his three sons above his right ankle.
One of the first bits of ink added to his body was a portrait of his mother, Celia, which sits on his left shoulder blade.
Jorge has guided Lionel’s career from the beginning
Lionel Messi takes a selfie with his dad Jorge Messi.Jorge Messi Instagram
The Argentinian footballer has had one of the most impressive careers in the history of sports, and it all started with his dad.
Jorge coached at the local Grandoli club, where a young Lionel played before graduating to Newell’s Old Boys, a prominent club. At the time, the budding prodigy was diagnosed with a growth deficiency and needed an expensive hormone treatment, according toThe Athletic.
Unable to foot the bill, Jorge took his son to Spain, where he convinced officials at FC Barcelona topay for the future star’s treatment. As his son has risen through the soccer ranks, the family patriarch has even taken on the agent role, negotiating contracts on Lionel’s behalf.
Although their son has amassed a slew of accolades, Jorge and Celia have said they never pushed Lionel into a pro football career.
Lionel Messi with his father Jorge Messi after the award ceremony at the World Cup on December 18, 2022.Robert Michael/picture alliance/Getty
Robert Michael/picture alliance/Getty
“We never really thought about it until he was 11 years old, and then he thought that he’d dedicate himself to soccer,” Jorge told Pisano in 2011. “He always played for fun and we were happy to see him play not because we thought he’d be a triumphant success but simply because he enjoyed it and did it well.”
“I told him to enjoy himself, to live in the moment and be happy. I told him to do what he knows, to play just as if he was playing when he started out with Grandoli,” she said. “All the family here is supporting him.”
They are protective of Lionel
Lionel Messi and his parents, Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini.Jorge Messi Instagram
Jorge and Celia are incredibly supportive of their youngest son, and Jorge often comes to Lionel’s defense when he believes his son is being unfairly criticized. This was the case in 2010 when Lionel drew criticism from Argentinians for the national team’s failure to advance past the World Cup quarterfinal.
“More than 100 players were called up for the national team, and only one was to blame?” he toldSports Illustratedin 2010. “It’s unfair. Leo has never gotten used to the situation here in Argentina. It’s really tough for him to be in Barcelona, where he’s really loved, and then come here and hear all that criticism.”
“We suffer from all the criticism that Leo receives,” she said on the show. “When people say that he doesn’t feel it or that he plays for the national team out of obligation, that hurts as a mother and as a family. Luckily, people love him a lot and they transmit that to him and he values this a lot. As a mother, I do, too.”
source: people.com
