Lionel Messi Breaks Silence On Viral Affair Rumours Involving Female World Cup Reporter

Lionel Messi broke his silence on viral affair rumours tied to a female World Cup reporter after Argentina’s latest match. In a post-match exchange with Sofi Martínez, who was covering the game for Argentine broadcaster Telefe, Messi used humour to dismiss speculation about a romantic relationship. The comments came right after Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde in Miami, catching reporters off guard before his interview began. When Martínez appeared, Messi quipped that people question why he looks at her and why he greets her, to which she replied that “they’re all lies.” The interaction quickly spread online. The gossip traces back to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, resurfaced in 2023 after another televised interview, and has never been supported by evidence. Martínez later said on Argentine TV program Podemos Hablar that the rumours affected her family, and that Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo privately reached out to reassure her during the peak of online speculation.