Celebrating with the ones who matter most. When Lionel Messi won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Sunday, December 18, he was thrilled to commemorate the historic win with his family.
After Messi, 35, led Argentina to their first World Cup win since 1986, the soccer player collected the best player statue and reunited with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three sons: Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7 and Ciro, 4, on the field.
“WORLD CHAMPIONS
,” the model, 34, captioned photos of the post-win celebration via Instagram in Spanish. “I don’t even know how to start … we feel the greatest pride for you @leomessi. Thanks for teaching us to never give up, we have to fight until the end.”
Roccuzzo continued, “FINALLY YOU ARE THE WORLD CHAMPION, we know what you suffered for so many years, you wanted to achieve this!!! LET’S GO ARGENTINA .”
Messi kissed his wife, whom he married in 2017, on the field in between taking snaps with his sons and his trophy. Roccuzzo, who has known her husband since childhood, and their kids wore matching “10” jerseys to support the patriarch.
In his own post after the big win, Messi gave his loved ones a shout-out. “So many times I dreamed it, so much I wanted it that I still don’t fall, I can’t believe it …… Thank you so much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us,” he wrote in his native Spanish via Instagram. “We prove once again that Argentinians when we fight together and united we are able to achieve what we aim. The merit is of this group, which is above individuals, is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the one of all Argentinians … We did it!!!”
Sunday’s match was his fifth and final World Cup, with his first being in 2006 at 18 years old. “This will be my last World Cup – for sure,” Messi told sports journalist Sebastián Vignolo in October via NBC. “The decision has been made.”
However, he isn’t retiring just yet. Messi told TyC Sports that he intends to continue playing for Argentina a while longer.
“I won the Copa America and the World Cup in a short time,” Messi said via ESPN. “I love what I do, being in the national team, and I want to continue living a few more games being world champion. I am going to take the Cup to Argentina to enjoy it with you.”
Scroll down for photos of Messi’s family from their World Cup celebration in Qatar: