At what age did Messi start showing off his girlfriend online? Yamal should take notes

Lionel Messi’s union with Antonela Roccuzzo is a prime example of what a celebrity relationship should be — married, blessed with children and free of media scandal.

Messi and Antonela were close childhood friends but separated when Leo moved to Spain as a teen. The couple reportedly reconnected in 2000 and started a love relationship not long after.

But Messi kept his relationship under wraps for nearly 10 years. The Argentina and Barcelona legend only confirmed he was seeing someone in 2009, but he didn’t reveal her identity.

Asked if he was dating someone, Messi simply said, “Yes, I have a girlfriend. She is in Argentina.” Leo was 22 years old and had already won his first Ballon d’Or then.

It wasn’t until 2010 that Messi was photographed with Antonela having a sun bath in Rio de Janeiro after another smashing season with Barca. Months later, Messi won his second Ballon d’Or.

In 2017, Messi was wedded to Antonela in a lavish but private ceremony in Rosario, Argentina. Today they have three children — Mateo, Thiago and Ciro.

Enter Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona wonder-kid stunned the world with his performances at Euro 2024 aged 16, although he turned 17 before the tournament was over.

But before the end of the Euros, rumours and pictures emerged that Lamine was dating Alex Padilla, who is older than him.

Lamine cleared all doubts by posting a cryptic picture of a young woman enjoying his vacation with him. Of course, it was Padilla since she already shared pictures of herself on the same boat cruise with Lamine days earlier in Greece.

Perhaps, young footballers like Lamine should be taking notes from Messi’s lifestyle if they hope to reach the same career pedestal.

There’s a reason why Messi lived up to the hype and became arguably the greatest footballer in history. It wasn’t by a stroke of luck but by sheer discipline and stupendous talent.