Lionel Messi has shared an adorable snap of himself with his wife on her birthday on social media, only a day after scoring a last-minute equalizer for Inter Miami against the LA Galaxy.
The 36-year-old, Argentine took to Instagram to share a message of love to his child sweetheart on Monday, as he publicly told her: ‘Happy Birthday, Princess! I love you @antonelarocuzzo.’
The couple were also pictured with their three children – sons, Thiago, 11, Matteo, 8, and Ciro, 5 – blowing a cake altogether, as they posed in front of multicolor balloons, a cardboard sign of Pocahontas and a wall sticker, which read ‘Happy Birthday Anto.’
‘Un ano mas viejita,’ Antonela, now 36, wrote as a caption to her Instagram post of family photos, as it directly translates to ‘one year older’ in English.
Victoria Beckham also wished Antonela a happy birthday on Instagram, sharing a picture of them both from what seems to be a girls lunch.
Lionel Messi got balloons, flowers and a Pocahontas sign for his wife on birthday on Monday
Antonela celebrated with her 36-year-old husband and her three boys, Thiago, Matteo & Ciro
Messi scored a 92nd minute goal on Sunday to avoid a first loss of the new MLS season with Inter Miami, as the Herons salvaged a 1-1 draw against the Galaxy in LA.
He slid forward and chipped a shot into the roof of the net above Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy after executing a give-and-go pass sequence with Jordi Alba, who he previously played with at Barcelona for nine seasons.
The goal delivered a thrill to the raucous crowd cheering on both teams at Miami’s first road game of the season. Thousands of fans wore Messi shirts among the 27,642 in attendance – a record for a Galaxy regular-season match at their suburban stadium.
Kim Kardashian was slammed after the game by fans on social media for lining up her son, Saint West, to walk out with Messi, instead of a ‘less fortunate kid.’
Inter Miami is a major betting favorite to dominate MLS this season after uniting Messi and Luis Suarez alongside fellow ex-Barca stars Sergio Busquets and Alba – but everybody on Messi’s side knows it won’t be easy.
Miami won its season opener at home last Wednesday, but was frequently outplayed by the rebuilding Galaxy four days later in Messi’s first appearance against the club that once employed Inter co-owner David Beckham.
Victoria Beckham also made sure to wish Antonela a happy birthday on Instagram on Monday
Messi walking out with Kim Kardashian’s son, Saint West, before Inter Miami’s draw against the LA Galaxy on Sunday
Beckham, who catalyzed MLS’ growth with his move to the Galaxy in 2007, has a statue outside his old team’s stadium. He’s also a primary reason for Inter’s ascent to the role long occupied by the Galaxy, which employed the likes of Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic late in their careers.
The excitement around Sunday’s match was a thrill for MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
‘It sort of represents everything we wanted this sport to be, and have worked so hard for so many years,’ said Garber, who met with Beckham and Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz before the game. ‘Everybody is working hard to build on this momentum. … To me, this is very much about where we were in 2007 and where we are today.’
