"She didn't leave me for any old bloke - she dumped me for Messi" - Antonella Roccuzzo's ex-boyfriend's comments resurface

Argentina star Lionel Messi's wife Antonella Roccuzzo was involved in another relationship before she and Messi ended up together, and her ex-boyfriend's comments have resurfaced online.

It's believed that Messi and Roccuzzo had been together since childhood, having known each other since they were ten. However, one of Roccuzzo's friends has said that it only got serious between them in 2007.

Before that, Antonella was in a relationship with another boy for a while. He spoke about them to a local newspaper in 2010, while also shedding light on his heartbreak. He had said (via AS):

"She dumped me, but at least she didn't leave me for any old bloke - she dumped me for Messi...”

Messi and Roccuzzo were introduced to each other by Roccuzzo's cousin, Luca Scaglia, who later recalled Messi asking him, "Who's that?". He added that Messi later wrote her a letter, saying: "One day we will be boyfriend and girlfriend."

However, after Messi left Rosario for Spain to continue his footballing career at Barcelona, things remained platonic between him and Roccuzzo, who got into a relationship with another boy.

📸Antonella Roccuzzo & Lionel Messi

🏆Stood with Messi through thick and thin!

❤️ What a beautiful love story!

🐐The GOAT-Football Royalty

#FIFAWorldCup|#Messi𓃵|#GOAT𓃵 https://t.co/NQ9TczjFmx

After realising that Messi was returning to Argentina, she broke off with her boyfriend, and according to her friend, she went looking out for Messi.

One of Roccuzzo's friends even told Argentine magazine, Para Ti, that they realised the two had started dating during a 'Friendship Day' celebration on July 20, 2007.

The unnamed source was quoted saying:

“We met as we always had done' and she took out a Blackberry phone which Leo had given her. She didn't say anything else, but we all guessed that they had started seeing each other."

After ten years of courtship, Messi and Roccuzzo tied the knot in July 2017 and now have three kids together - Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.

Messi cements 'GOAT' status with 2022 FIFA World Cup victory

Speaking of Messi, he has effectively cemented his legacy as the greatest player of all time after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with Argentina.

Antonela Roccuzzo, Lionel Messi's wife, celebrating with the World Cup trophy 🇦🇷💙 https://t.co/noK2qHz41N

Despite all his achievements on the field, there was a general opinion that he must win the ultimate prize in football to claim the 'GOAT' status outright.

Having now fulfilled that condition, the 35-year-old has left little scope for debate as he's won every major trophy with club and country. Messi, though, isn't done yet, having vowed to continue playing for Argentina while also reportedly confirming a contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain.