Lionel Messi's goal celebration honors his grandmother, who inspired his career

Lionel Messi's signature goal celebration, a gesture of pointing his index fingers skyward, carries a deeply personal meaning. This act is a constant tribute to his maternal grandmother, Celia Olivera Cuccittini, who passed away when he was just 10 years old but played a pivotal role in shaping his life and career.

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I was very young when my grandmother died, and I suffered a lot because we were very close. She was very dear to me.

Messi and his grandmother shared an exceptionally close bond, spending nearly all their days together. He has spoken openly about the profound impact her death had on him at such a young age. "I was very young when my grandmother died, and I suffered a lot because we were very close. She was very dear to me," Messi shared in a 2024 Infobae interview.

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Put him on the field, and he will win you the game.

His grandmother's influence extended beyond emotional support; she was the catalyst for his football career. When a four-year-old Messi was eager to play, his grandmother took him to a local club and insisted the coaches let him on the field. Despite initial reluctance due to his size, she famously told the coaches, "Put him on the field, and he will win you the game." This intervention led to Messi's first official match.

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Why did I cry? It had nothing to do with football in any way.

More recently, Messi's World Cup journey has been marked by intense emotions. After scoring his first goal in the tournament against Algeria, he was visibly moved to tears. He explained that this reaction was not solely about football but stemmed from having "a few difficult days" and being grateful for his teammates' support. It later emerged that these difficulties were partly linked to serious health issues his father, Jorge Messi, had been experiencing, which had unfortunately fueled false rumors of his death.

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I had a few difficult days. I am grateful to all my teammates, they supported me to stay strong.