Lionel Messi marries childhood sweetheart amid family tension

LIONEL Messi, one of the world’s greatest footballers, married his childhood sweetheart in a lavish Argentinian ceremony.

More than 250 friends and family – including some of football’s biggest names – jetted to Argentina to watch Messi, 30, marry Antonella Roccuzzo, 29.

The couple, who have known each other for 25 years, banned cellphones at the event. Staff were sworn to secrecy and 450 police officers were on duty.

Guests chose whether they walked along a red carpet at the entrance to be photographed and interviewed or entered through a side entrance.

Messi and Antonella exchanged vows with eldest son Thiago, 4, nearby. Messi kissed his bride before caressing Thiago’s hair.

Abel Pintos ended the ceremony singing her favourite song, Sin Principio ni final (Without Beginning or End).

There was one aspect which threatened to overshadow the occasion – claims of tension between Messi’s family and Antonella. A source close to the family said relations had been strained since 2010.

Messi and Antonella, who have two sons, chose to marry in their home town of Rosario. They did not have a religious ceremony and the civil proceedings were said to have lasted 15 minutes.

Messi reportedly asked for festivities to end by midnight as he was to return to Barcelona. – Daily Mail