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REVEALED: The woman emotionally embraced by Lionel Messi during the World Cup final celebrations is the much-loved Argentine team chef, Antonia Farias, who has worked with the national team for more than a decade.
The woman seen in an emotional embrace with Lionel Messi after Sunday’s World Cup final has been revealed to be chef Antonia Farias.
There had been a lot of speculation about who the mystery woman was, with some believing she was a member of Messi’s family given the tenderness of the hug. However, reports in Argentina claim that she is an employee of the national team.
Images emerged of Farias wearing an Argentina jersey, approaching Messi in post-match celebrations after Argentina’s penalty shootout win over France.
Lionel Messi’s face lights up at the sight of Argentinian chef Antonia Farias after World Cup victory
The couple give each other a big hug as everyone in the Argentina camp celebrates the victory.
The emotion was seen in both Messi and chef Farias in a tender post-match moment
Messi’s face lit up when he saw Farias and she wrapped her arms around the national team captain as the couple enjoyed a big celebratory hug.
According to Argentine newspaper ClarionFarias has been chef at La Albiceleste for the past decade and travels regularly with the staff.
He was part of the organization during last year’s Copa América and Finalism victory at Wembley, and traveled to cook for the team in Qatar for the World Cup, four years after doing the same in Russia in the last final.
Messi and Farias share birthday celebrations during a meeting of the national team
The chef is said to be well-liked by the team, both for her cooking skills and her attitude at camp. So much so that she was gifted a birthday cake of hers while they were in Russia in conjunction with Messi’s special day.
Messi was also joined on pitch at the celebrations by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children, each posing and taking turns kissing the famous World Cup trophy.
However, a congratulatory face was not received with the same enthusiasm by Messi, that of another cook, the Turkish chef Salt Bae.
Messi was also joined on the pitch by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children to celebrate their famous World Cup victory.
Messi reluctantly shook hands with Turkish chef Salt Bae, who was somehow allowed on the pitch during the celebrations.
The 39-year-old, who found fame online, was somehow allowed onto the pitch after the trophy was handed over and desperately tried to get the attention of the Argentina captain.
However, Messi practically avoided Bae’s advances and continued to enjoy the moment he had been dreaming of for the past month.
Messi and Argentina were greeted by thousands of fans in Buenos Aires today as the returning heroes paraded with the World Cup trophy through the country’s capital.