Celia María Cuccittini, the mother of the legendary Argentinian soccer player Lionel Messi, has stood by his side to celebrate numerous achievements throughout his career. Despite a period of separation during Lionel Messi’s youth, he and his mother maintain a strong and close relationship.

Before the fame and fortune that accompanied her son’s success, Celia María Cuccittini, originally from Argentina, worked part-time as a house cleaner to provide for her family. Together with her husband, who was a factory worker, they did everything in their power to support Lionel Messi, who faced a medical condition that inhibited his growth.

Fortunately, their dedication bore fruit as their son went on to make history by signing with the Spanish soccer club FC Barcelona. Celia María Cuccittini and her husband struggled financially when their son Lionel was young.

Lionel suffered from a growth hormone deficiency, and the treatment for it was very expensive, almost using up all of their earnings. Thankfully, FC Barcelona stepped in and offered to cover the cost of Lionel’s medical treatment. This generous offer led Celia and her family to move to Spain for their son’s care.

However, the stay of Celia, Lionel, and his siblings in the European country was short-lived. Celia later returned to Argentina, leaving her son and husband behind. Lionel shared: “It was very tough for me. There were moments when I was really sad and homesick.”

During the initial three years of Lionel’s professional career, he could only see Celia and his siblings every four months. Whenever he had to leave them and return to Spain, the soccer player struggled emotionally. Lionel’s father, Jorge Messi, expressed, “Leo needs his mother.”

Celia María Cuccittini and her son share a close and enduring bond. Despite the physical distance that often separated them during Lionel’s professional career, he found meaningful ways to celebrate special moments with his mother. In 2011, after scoring against Racing Santander, Lionel lifted his soccer jersey to reveal a shirt with a message that read, “Happy birthday, Mom,” in English.

During the same year, he also showed a tattoo of his mother on his shoulder while on vacation. In 2022, Celia and her son touched the hearts of many when she rushed onto the pitch to celebrate with him following his FIFA World Cup victory in what was described as one of the most “dramatic” finals ever.

In the aftermath of what’s been dubbed the most thrilling World Cup final ever, Lionel Messi found himself swarmed by jubilant fans on the pitch. Finally, after all his accomplishments, he had secured the one trophy that had eluded him throughout his career.

Caught on camera, his mother, Celia Maria Cuccittini, wearing an Argentina shirt, rushed up to him, her eyes filled with tears. Messi was initially looking in another direction, unaware of her approach. The emotional moment when he turned to see his mother, realizing he was now a World Cup winner, was beautifully captured on camera.

Messi is truly an iconic figure. But that’s not all — we also have an article discussing why Lionel Messi reportedly chooses not to make physical contact with any woman except his wife.