More than 250 friends and family – including some of football’s biggest names – jetted to Argentina, to watch the sporting star, 30, marry Antonella Roccuzzo, 29, at the plush hotel complex as an alleged family feud threatened to overshadow the day.
The couple, who have known each other for some 25 years, banned mobile phones at the event. Staff were also sworn to secrecy and 450 police officers were drafted in for the big day.
Messi was wearing an Armani suit designed by Argentinian designer Claudio Cosano and Antonella’s wedding dress was reportedly flown in yesterday accompanied by two bodyguardsThe world’s press lined a red carpet at the entrance of the hotel in Rosario. Guests chose whether they walked along it to be photographed and interviewed, or went through a discreet side entrance.
Samuel Eto’o was the first guest to walk along the red carpet and past the world’s press, followed by Aguero and girlfriend Karina, Cesc Fabregas and fiance Daniella Seeman, Antonella’s best friend, and Argentine national team player Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Barcelona teammate Neymar arrived on his own because, according to Argentinian media, he proposed to girlfriend Bruna Marquezine and she said no.
Messi and Antonella, who have two sons, chose to marry in their home town of Rosario, northern Argentina, where they grew up together.
Former Barcelona players Xavi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas and Carles Puyol and their wives pose on a red carpet upon arrival
Samuel Eto’o and his wife Georgette (left) were the first guests to walk along the red carpet and past the world’s press into the venue, followed by Cesc Fabregas and fiance Daniella Seeman (right)
After the couple were pronounced man and wife, Messi, wearing a blue Armani suit, kissed his bride before caressing son Thiago’s hair
Women guests were reportedly encouraged to bring three dresses to avoid clashes or repeats of clothes, or even colours and textures, while male guests were told to take three different types of shirts.
The wife of former Argentina and Manchester City defender Marin Demichelis, playboy model Evangelina Anderson, reportedly brought five dresses to make sure she her outfit wasn’t similar to any of the other WAGS.
The occasion was briefly interrupted by a group of workers representing 600 people who had recently been sacked from Pepsico in the city, who took advantage of the media presence to protest with banners and chants.
Meanwhile, one Messi superfan, a Brazilian called Alex who is also a Messi double, claimed he had come to Rosario to marry his wife at exactly the same time as the footballer, on a homemade altar on the pavement outside the hotel.
Hundreds of fans lined a red carpet at the entrance of the hotel in Rosario to watch the newlyweds leave after the ceremony
Messi and Antonella took their wedding vows with eldest son Thiago sitting inches in front of them.
After the couple were pronounced man and wife, Messi, wearing a blue Armani suit, kissed his bride before caressing Thiago’s hair.
And in a surprise moment for Antonella, arranged by Messi without her knowledge, Argentinian singer Abel Pintos ended the ceremony singing her favourite song, Sin Principio ni final (Without Beginning or End).
Antonella’s dress, as well as two others the bride will wear during the night, was made by designer Rosa Clara, who has also dressed Eva Longoria, Sofia Vergara and the Queen of Spain
Women guests were reportedly encouraged to bring three dresses to to avoid clashes or repeats of clothes. Pictured: Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and his girlfriend Karina Tejeda
Pictured: The first guests begin to arrive for the wedding of Lionel Messi and his childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo in Rosario, Argentina
Uruguayan footballer Luis Suarez and his wife Sofia Balbi pose on a red carpet before the nuptials
Spanish footballer Jordi Alba and his girlfriend Romarey Ventura pose for pictures
The crowds in Rosario (pictured) gather to see their famous son as guests – including football stars and Colombian singer Shakira – arrive on the red carpet for his wedding
There was one aspect which threatened to overshadow the Barcelona star’s big day – claims in Argentina of tension between his close-knit family and the woman he fell in love with at the age of five.
Earlier an aunt of Messi’s was caught out live on TV when an America TV channel called her to interview her about her nephew and she revealed bitterly that she hadn’t been invited to the wedding.
When the woman found out she was live on air she hung up, and when the show called again she answered in tears, blamed Messi’s ‘horrible’ mother Celia for being shafted from the ceremony.
She added that Celia had ‘split up’ the family, complaining that more relatives from her side of the family had received invites to the wedding than that of Messi’s father Jorge.
A source close to the Messi family told MailOnline that relations between his family and fiancée Antonella Roccuzzo had also been strained for nearly seven years.
The friend said that while the two families might appear united during tonight’s luxurious celebrations there have been tension in the past.
More than 250 friends and family – including footballers Xavi, Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Puyol (pictured left) – have jetted to Argentina and cars were waiting at the airport to whisk them to the venue while the bride’s dress arrived from Spain by private jet accompanied by two bodyguards. Pictured right: The 30-year-old Barcelona star with Antonella Roccuzzo
A source close to the Messi family told MailOnline that relations between his family and Antonella have been strained for nearly seven years. Pictured: Close friend Jose Pinto posted a photo on Instagram yesterday with the words: ‘the gang back together’
Pictured: Gerard Pique (left) with wife Shakira (second from left) after they arrived at Rosario Airport on a private jet
Pictured from right: Barcelona centre back Gerard Pique and his wife, Colombian megastar Shakira, arriving at Rosario airport for the special day
A picture taken by Argentina and former Liverpool player Javier Mascherano showing some of the wedding’s guests, including PSG midfielder Angel Di Maria (left)
Pique and Shakira getting into a car as they make their way to the casino hosting the big event later today
Pictured: Maria Sol Messi, the Argentine great’s sister, arriving at the hotel by car
Messi dismissed the claims of a family feud as ‘nonsense’. A friend told MailOnline claims of a rift are not true. At the plush City Center Rosario (above) where the couple will marry, mobile phones have been banned, staff sworn to secrecy and 450 police officers drafted on duty
