Even the most famous faces can have unexpectedly awkward moments, and Antonela Roccuzzo proved it recently outside a Miami padel court. The model and businesswoman, wife of soccer legend Lionel Messi, found herself the center of a viral video after an influencer approached her for one simple reason.
Ziv Tamir, known on social media as “the watch guy,” has a reputation for stopping strangers to inspect and inquire about their luxury timepieces. With over 600,000 Instagram followers, his niche content typically features people showing off their pricey watches while casually revealing their occupations.
What Tamir didn’t realize was that this particular encounter would involve one of the most recognized women on the planet. Leaving a padel match with friends, Antonela seemed to be in good spirits, while Tamir, with his camera in hand, pointed out the Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Rope watch on her wrist.
“What watch are you wearing?” he asked, breaking the ice and opening a dialogue about the elegant accessory. The watch, a yellow gold piece adorned with 38 round brilliant diamonds totaling 0.52 carats, is paired with a mother-of-pearl dial and Tiffany’s signature blue alligator strap.
Running on a Swiss-made solar-powered movement, it is both a jewelry statement and a precision instrument. Valued between $25,000 and $35,000, it’s the kind of luxury few could wear, but Antonela made it look entirely natural.
At first, Antonela seemed unsure, perhaps thinking Tamir was addressing someone else. She enlisted her friends to help interpret his English. Fans watching the video couldn’t help but notice the subtle awkwardness as Tamir curiously examined her wrist, seemingly unaware of who she was.
“What do you do?” the man asked, hoping to start a conversation about her line of work. Antonela froze for a second, looked toward her friends, and simply smiled for the camera. “Really?” she said, before saying "Thank you" and finishing the brief interview.
The clip, posted on TikTok, quickly went viral with millions of views and fans interested in the awkward interaction. One viewer joked, “Not recognizing Antonela should be illegal!” while another summed up the collective reaction, “Dude, you just asked Messi's wife what she does for a living.”
Beyond being Lionel Messi’s wife, she has carved out her own career as a model, businesswoman, influencer, and mother of three. From fashion campaigns to brand collaborations, she manages a multifaceted life.
Social media users pointed out the similarities in her English to Messi’s, with comments like “She also has Messi's level of English,” while others struggled with the accent or simply couldn’t believe the influencer didn’t recognize her.