Lionel Messi's 'wedding of the century' begins in Argentina

Lionel Messi's 'wedding of the century' begins in Argentina

Lionel Messi joined on the pitch by Antonela Roccuzzo and their two sons

Argentine football star Lionel Messi's "wedding of the century" is taking place in his hometown of Rosario.

Messi, 30, is marrying his childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo, 29, in a civil ceremony at a luxury hotel.

Football stars and celebrities are among 260 guests attending the ceremony. Hundreds of police have been deployed ahead of the event.

Messi, the Argentina and Barcelona star, first met Antonela Roccuzzo before he moved to Spain aged just 13.

Among the guests at Friday's wedding are Messi's Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Neymar, Gerard Piqué and his wife, Colombia's pop star Shakira. A number of guests flew into Rosario on private jets.

Argentina's Clarín newspaper has variously called the wedding "the wedding of the year" and "the wedding of the century".

Crowds have gathered outside the hotel in Rosario

Earlier, crowds gathered at the local airport to try to spot some of the famous guests.

A private security firm is working inside the hotel to keep out potential gatecrashers.

About 150 journalists have received accreditation to enter a special press area, but will not have full access to the venue, said organisers.

Where did the bride and groom meet?

Artist Lisandro Urteaga paints a celebratory a mural of Messi on a wall in Rosario ahead of the wedding

Messi met his future wife when he was just five years old. She is the cousin of his best friend, Lucas Scaglia, who also became a professional football player.

Messi accepted an offer to play for Barcelona when he was 13, on condition that they pay for treatment for his growth hormone deficiency.
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He has spoken about the difficulties he faced on leaving behind his loved ones and former club.

The couple, who now live in Barcelona, have two sons together.

In May, his appeal against a 21-month jail term for tax evasion in Spain was rejected. He is unlikely to go to prison as the sentence can be served under probation or possibly avoided by paying a fine.

What do we know about the big day?

The event will take place at Rosario's City Center hotel complex, which has an adjoining casino.

Rosario's Hotel CityCenter set up for a previous event

Ms Roccuzzo, 29, is expected to wear a dress by Rosa Clara, a Barcelona-based designer who has dressed actress Eva Longoria and Spain's Queen Letizia.

Aside from a "sushi station", the menu is a very Argentine affair, including empanadas (traditional pasties) and all parts of the cow, from a casserole of sweetbreads to blood sausage.

Who is on the guest list?

Messi has invited the Barcelona squad, including Neymar, Luis Suárez and Gerard Piqué, who arrived in Rosario in a private jet with his wife, Colombian pop-star Shakira.

Teammates from Argentina's national team, including Sergio Agüero, will also be present.

Clarín reported that he has not invited any of his recent coaches, including Pep Guardiola, who is now at Manchester City.

Argentina's other big football legend, Diego Maradona, is also not on the list, according to the local press.

Where is Rosario?

The port city of Rosario sits on the banks of the Paraná, about 300km north-west of Buenos Aires in the centre of the country.

Another famous Argentine to have spent his early years here is Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

Messi is known locally simply as Lío.

He has been a local hero since his days as a star player for Newell's Old Boys.

The team has a staunch rivalry with nearby Rosario Central, similar to that of Boca Juniors and River Plate in Buenos Aires.

Since moving to Spain, Messi has won a record-breaking five Fifa Ballon d'Or awards