'Grumpy Old Man!' - Lionel Messi's wife Antonela celebrates him on 38th birthday with Smurf-themed cake

Lionel Messi, widely hailed as one of the greatest footballers of all time, may be a legend on the pitch, but at home, he’s affectionately known as the ‘Grumpy Old Man’ a loving jab from his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo.

To mark his 38th birthday, Antonela kept it light and sweet by sharing a heart-warming post to her 39.9 million Instagram followers featuring Messi alongside a Smurf-themed cake.

Her caption, which has since gone viral, read: “Happy Birthday Grumpy Old Man! Best dad, best partner, best everything!!! How lucky are we to have you! We love you🤍🎂”

The adorable post was originally shared on Antonela’s official Instagram page and fans worldwide flooded the comment section, celebrating the couple’s display of love.

Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo’s relationship is nothing short of a modern fairytale. 

The power couple first met as children in Rosario, Argentina, when Messi was just five years old.

 Antonela happens to be the cousin of Messi’s childhood friend, Lucas Scaglia.

Even though Messi moved to Spain at the age of 13 to pursue his football career with Barcelona, the two maintained a connection throughout their youth.

Their friendship eventually blossomed into romance in their late teens, and the couple officially began dating around 2008. 

Despite Messi’s rising stardom, the two kept their relationship relatively private in the early years. 

They later tied the knot in 2017 in a lavish but intimate wedding ceremony in their hometown of Rosario, attended by football stars and celebrities from around the world.

The couple have since built a strong family together. 

They are proud parents to three sons: Thiago (12), born in 2012, Mateo (9), born in 2015, and Ciro (7), born in 2018. 

Antonela frequently shares family moments on social media, often showing Messi in his most natural role, being a doting father and loving husband.

Through countless club trophies, international triumphs, and global fame, Messi and Antonela have remained each other’s biggest supporters.