Ahead of the 2026 World Cup final match between Argentina and Spain, singer Shakira shared an emotional message about Lionel Messi on Instagram. Following Argentina’s victory over England (2-1) to reach the final, Shakira praised Messi’s extraordinary performance at the age of 39. She wrote that Messi proves a person is defined not by their age, but by their dedication, discipline, and indomitable spirit.
Shakira further stated her belief that Messi draws strength and inspiration from having his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, by his side. Antonela shared Shakira’s post on her Instagram Story, and it quickly went viral on social media; this report comes from the news agency AP. Notably, childhood friends Messi and Antonela married in 2017 and have three sons. Meanwhile, after defeating England, Messi also addressed allegations regarding biased refereeing and claims that the Argentine team received special favors.
He stated that Argentina has established itself as one of the world’s best teams over the past four years, and their ability to turn matches around late in the game is a testament to their championship mentality. In Messi’s words, “We have been the best team for the last four years—whether people like it or not. We have once again secured our place among the world’s top two teams. This proves that our success is no coincidence, and nothing was handed to us as a gift.”
