Lionel Messi’s competitive nature extends beyond the pitch, as evidenced by a recent garden kickabout with his children. In a video shared by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, Messi is seen playing football with their sons Thiago (9), Mateo (6), and Ciro (4). What was meant to be a casual game quickly turned into a display of Messi’s intense focus and skill, as he played as if it were a Champions League final.
Despite Roccuzzo’s expectation of a fun, light-hearted match, Messi showed no mercy, skillfully controlling the ball and evading tackles from his kids. He scored effortlessly into a mini goal, leaving Thiago—who was in goal—without a chance. After scoring, Messi dashed back to defend his own goal, demonstrating his serious approach to the game.
Roccuzzo humorously commented on the video, urging Messi to “let the kids win,” highlighting the playful yet competitive environment.
This competitive spirit seems to have carried over from his recent performance with Paris Saint-Germain, where he scored his eighth goal of the season in a 5-1 victory against Lorient. Notably, it was the first time that Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe all scored in the same match, solidifying their dominance in Ligue 1 and extending PSG’s lead to 12 points at the top of the table.