Antonela Roccuzzo, the wife of Paris Saint Germain forward, Lionel Messi suffered one of the worst moments of her life when she watched PSG’s fans boo her husband.
Antonela Roccuzzo and Lionel Messi have been dating since they were teenagers before they got married in 2017. Hence, she is one of the few people that knew when Messi was a nobody.
Roccuzzo who was born in Rosario, Argentina just like her husband, followed Messi’s football career from Messi’s days at Newell’s Old Boys football academy to the footballer’s 17 years at FC Barcelona. Throughout those good old days, the fans had never had any reason to boo the record seven times Ballon d’Or winner. All Messi used to get were applause and songs of praise.
But on March 13, 2022, Messi tasted the bitter pill of football when PSG’s fans decided to boo him and his teammate Neymar before the kick-off of a league match between PSG and Bordeaux at Parc Des Princes.
The horrible scene took place when the names of PSG’s players were being announced ahead of the game. Immediately Kylian Mbappe’s name was announced, the spectators at the stadium cheered but when Neymar’s name came up, the spectators booed. They did the same when Messi’s name came up.
😨PSG fans booed Lionel Messi and Neymar while cheering for Kylian Mbappé 😬
— Fanatiz (@fanatiztv_en) March 13, 2022
🎥 parisdanslapeau pic.twitter.com/3voSyOy3t3
Unfortunately for the Argentine football icon, his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo was on the stands. Roccuzzo’s pictures that surfaced on the internet confirmed that the Argentine lady was almost moved to tears for the decision of the fans to boo her husband.
Fortunately for her, she was able to summon the strength to hold back her tears as she stayed back to watch PSG beat Bordeaux 3-0.
Unfortunately, Messi’s goals drought in the French Ligue 1 continued as he failed to score in the game even though he was used as a striker. He has managed to score just a league goal in 18 league appearances.
Luckily for Neymar, the 30-year-old Brazilian winger was able to score a goal in the 3-0 win to at least redeem himself.
Why did PSG’s fans boo Lionel Messi that almost made Antonela Roccuzzo cry
Lionel Messi is arguably the most successful footballer in the world. He decided to join PSG in August 2021 after FC Barcelona, his childhood club, failed to renew his contract due to financial complications.
His arrival at PSG was expected to help the French club to achieve its long-term dream of winning the UEFA Champions League title for the first time in the club’s history.
In the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League campaign, they managed to finish second in the group stage which forced them to be paired against Real Madrid in the round of 16.
Luckily for PSG, they beat Real Madrid 1-0 at Parc Des Princes in the first leg. Though PSG won the first leg courtesy of Kylian Mbappe’s lone goal, Messi ended the game in disappointment because he missed a penalty.
In the second leg of the round, PSG’s fans expected that Lionel Messi and Neymar would join forces with Mbappe to finish the job in Madrid. However, it was Mbappe that gave PSG the lead again but this time around, Real Madrid responded with three goals in 17 minutes courtesy of Karim Benzema.
PSG’s dream of winning this season’s UEFA Champions League campaign with their star-studded squad failed to come to pass. The French side was knocked out of the Champions League 3-2 on aggregate.
Hence, to show their anger against Neymar who reportedly earns €625,000 per week at PSG, and Messi who reportedly earns €729,000-per-week, PSG’s fans decided to boo them.
Unfortunately for Messi, his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo was at the Parc Des Princes to witness the humiliating moment.
It might interest you to note that Roccuzzo is the mother of Messi’s three children (boys) named Mateo, Thiago, and Ciro.
Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas defend Lionel Messi
After PSG’s fans booed Lionel Messi, the footballer’s former teammates at FC Barcelona, Luis Suarez, and Cesc Fabregas came to the rescue of the 34-year-old Argentine football icon.
Luis Suarez who currently plays for Atletico Madrid took to his Instagram story to write: “As always #footballwithoutmemory, always with you. Love you both so much.”
While Cesc Fabregas who currently plays for Monaco took to his Twitter page to write: “Football has no memory whatsoever… it’s a shame. Always with you brothers.”
Football has no memory whatsoever… it’s a shame. Always with you brothers 🙏🏻
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) March 13, 2022
Recall that Suarez played alongside Messi and Neymar at FC Barcelona between 2013 and 2017 before Neymar joined PSG. After Neymar left, Suarez and Messi continued to play together until after the 2019-2020 season before the Uruguayan striker was forced to join Atletico Madrid.
On the other hand, Fabregas graduated from FC Barcelona football academy alongside Messi and played with the Argentine football icon between 2011 and 2014 before he joined Chelsea.
