Antonela Roccuzzo Rejects Doctor’s Cosmetic Surgery Claims About Lionel Messi Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Antonela Roccuzzo, wife of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, has stepped out of her characteristically low-profile public presence to directly refute claims made by a cosmetic specialist regarding her husband’s physical appearance.

The controversy originated when facial aesthetics specialist Dr. Celeste Nardanone published a video on Instagram in which she analysed changes in Messi’s appearance across different periods of his career. In the video, Dr. Nardanone speculated that the Inter Miami and Argentina captain may have undergone a range of cosmetic enhancements, including rhinoplasty, otoplasty, blepharoplasty, and Botox treatments. The video accumulated thousands of reactions from football supporters and followers of the 2022 World Cup winner.

Roccuzzo, 38 and mother of three, responded directly in the comments section of the post, flatly rejecting every claim made in the video. “Not one thing was right! He has never had surgery hahaha, and the thing about the teeth is called Invisalign,” she wrote, according to Marca. The comment spread rapidly across platforms, with many fans commending her for publicly addressing what they regarded as unsubstantiated speculation.

Following Roccuzzo’s intervention, Dr. Nardanone responded by defending the intent behind her video. The specialist maintained that the content had been produced respectfully and as part of a broader educational conversation around cosmetic procedures, thanking Messi’s wife for engaging with her post while standing by her observations.

The social media episode comes at a significant moment for Messi on the pitch. The Argentina captain returned from injury on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, scoring a free-kick in a 3-0 friendly victory over Iceland — as reported by Pulse Sports. The result served as a timely fitness indicator ahead of what could be his final appearance at a FIFA World Cup.

Argentina enter the 2026 tournament as defending champions, having claimed the title in Qatar in December 2022. With the tournament set to be staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, La Albiceleste will be under intense scrutiny to retain the trophy, with Messi — now 38 years old — at the centre of both footballing and off-field attention.

Roccuzzo has rarely entered public disputes of this nature throughout her years as the partner of one of sport’s most recognisable figures. The couple, who grew up in Rosario, Argentina, married in 2017 and have three sons together. Her decision to respond publicly underscored the degree to which the viral video had registered within the Messi household.

With Argentina’s World Cup campaign set to begin imminently, focus is expected to return to Messi’s on-field contributions as the nation looks to make history as back-to-back champions for the first time since Brazil achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962.