Off the pitch, the 39-year-old continues to maintain his impeccable reputation. However, this hasn’t prevented unfounded online speculation circulating about Messi’s private life, involving Telefe journalist Sofi Martinez. Following Argentina’s hard-fought triumph over Cape Verde in the second round, Messi deliberately approached her to playfully mock the affair allegations surrounding them.
After the pair exchanged a warm embrace, a smiling Messi remarked: “When I look at you, they ask why I’m looking at you. And when I greet you, they ask why I’m greeting you.”
A thankful Sofi responded: “These are all lies.”
Sofi has also gained the support of Messi’s wife and mother of their three children, Antonela Roccuzzo, who contacted her during the swirling speculation, which initially gathered pace throughout Argentina’s triumphant World Cup campaign four years ago.
Sofi revealed the contents of the message she received from Antonela, which read: “Sofi, don’t worry, ignore the nonsense.”
The journalist has previously addressed the rumours and the impact they have had on both herself and her family.
She told Argentina’s Podemos Hablar show: “A lot of the time when your exposure increases, it brings things that aren’t so good and my family suffers a lot.
“This year, people began to talk more and more about, ‘What’s up with the way he looks at you,’ things like this, and I was caught in the middle of something that made me feel ridiculous to have to clarify.”
Sofi believes she has been targeted because of her gender.
Meanwhile, a colleague, who requested anonymity, told German publication Bild: “Sofi is a very calm person. She wants nothing to do with this whole drama. Messi’s life is so orderly that some people simply have to invent scandals.”
With Argentina preparing to face either Colombia or Switzerland in the last eight, Messi’s focus will firmly shift back to matters on the pitch, with England potentially blocking their path should they progress to the semi-finals.