Argentinian sports reporter breaks silence on Lionel Messi affair rumors
Argentinian sports presenter Sofi Martinez has defiantly shutdown rumors of an affair with Lionel Messi, branding the rumors 'ridiculous.'
Martinez has shot into the spotlight over the past few years for her success covering the Argentinian national soccer team, in addition to her work on global sporting events such as the Olympics in Paris, Formula One and the Champions League for ESPN and Argentina's TV Publica.
The journalist's work has seen her interview a number of Argentina's greatest sports stars, including Messi. In particular, Martinez went viral for her emotional interview with the 37-year-old during Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup.
The Inter Miami star's public interactions with Martinez have sparked rumors they could be romantically involved, despite Messi's seven-year marriage to childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo, with whom he shares three sons.
However, Martinez slammed the claims, opening up on the pain it has caused her and her family.
'A lot of the time when your exposure increases, it brings things that aren't so good and my family suffers a lot,' Martinez admitted during an appearance on 'PH: Podemos Hablar' on Argentinian channel, Telefe.
Argentinian sports presenter Sofia Martinez shutdown rumors of an affair with Lionel Messi
The soccer star has been married to childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo since 2017
The reporter, who has risen to fame, has interview the Inter Miami star multiple times
'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,' Martinez added, referring to the unfounded fan theories claiming that the pair exchanged flirtatious glances.
Martinez also claimed that she had only become a target of the rumors due to her gender. She told the audience that 'Podemos Hablar' host Andy Kusnetzoff could look at Messi the same way but wouldn't spark speculation because he is a man.
Neither Messi nor Antonela have addressed the rumors, despite past claims that the mother-of-three was jealous of her husband's working relationship with Martinez.
Martinez, who previously met Antonela, dismissed those claims, insisting she didn't 'know where it comes from' in a past interview with Socios del espectáculo.
The reporter also hailed Antonela for the manner in which 'she handles the madness' surrounding the global soccer superstar.
Messi and Antonela met for the first time in the 90s in their hometown, Rosario. The Argentine was just five years old when he met the love of his life.
Antonela was the cousin of Messi's childhood friend Lucas Scaglia. The two love birds ended up spending a substantial amount of time together when they were young.
Messi and Antonela's relationship blossomed during their younger years and the pair kept in contact when the No. 10 left for Barcelona at the age of 13. Then, in 2008, Messi and Antonela made their relationship public.
Martinez slammed the claims, opening up on the pain it has caused her and her family
Martinez has shot into the spotlight over the past few years for her success covering multiple sporting events, particularly the Argentinian team's World Cup and Copa America wins
Messi shares three sons - Thiago, 12, Mateo, 9, and Ciro, 6, - with wife Antonela
Messi and Antonela welcomed their first son Thiago into the world in 2012 before having two more sons Mateo (2015) and Ciro (2018).
The pair tied the not in 2017 in a lavish wedding at a luxury hotel in the heart of Rosario.
She is huge supporter of her husband and is regularly seen cheering him from the stands at his games.
Meanwhile, Martinez revealed that she was as single as possible when pressed on her relationship status in an interview with Canal 9 following her split from fellow journalist Diego Leuco at the end of 2023 and amid further romance rumors linking her to Argentinian TV personality Marcos Ginocchio.
