Lionel Messi is taking a break from packed stadiums, commercial shoots, and the fast-paced rhythm that defines his career. The soccer star has celebrated the holidays with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their kids in Rosario, Argentina. Now, he's made another trip to visit one of his closest friends, Luis Suarez. Messi and his family have traveled to Uruguay for a special occasion.
Messi and his family visited Suarez to celebrate the 15th birthday of Delfina Suarez. The gesture is a sweet one that demonstrates the strong bond that formed between Messi and Suarez, which began with their time spent in Barcelona and their current partnership on Inter Miami, where they've found success in the MLS.
The party will be hosted in Canelones, at the exclusive Villa Domus estate, a venue reserved for large-scale private events that has strong ties to South American football history. Over the years, the location has hosted weddings for figures like Diego Forlán and Fernando Muslera.
A football reunion off the pitch
The birthday celebration is expected to reunite the inner circle of Uruguayan and international football. Among the guests are historic figures from Uruguay’s national team, like Edinson Cavani, Diego Godín, Diego Lugano, and Muslera himself.
Other figures that might be expected include close friends of Messi and Suarez, who currently play for Inter Miami, like Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. Both of these players have strong ties with Messi, with all of them sharing the pitch during Barcelona's golden era of soccer.
Messi and Suarez share a footballing past and present, and are also making plans for their future. The pair is also involved in a joint sporting project: Deportivo LSM, a club that competes in the Uruguayan Football Association and recently earned promotion to the third division. The club's initials spell Suarez and Messi's names, and began as a sporting center launched by Suarez to develop young soccer players in his home country. The club is expected to make its way up the ranks, at some point reaching the first division of Uruguay's soccer league. Messi joined the venture this year, adding some notoriety to the club.
"Deportivo LS is a family dream that began in 2018. We have grown a lot with more than 3,000 members," said Suarez, per ESPN. "I want to offer Uruguayan soccer, the place I love and where I grew up as a child, opportunities and tools for teenagers and children to grow."