Lionel Messi marries long-term girlfriend Antonela Roccuzzo in a star-studded gala

Messi first met Roccuzzo when he was just five years old.

Courtesy: Instagram (antoroccuzzo88)

Buenos Aires: Argentine football star Lionel Messi has married his childhood sweetheart in his hometown Rosario.

A civil ceremony for Messi, 30, and Antonela Roccuzzo, 29, was held at a luxury hotel in the city of Rosario on Friday, reports the BBC.

PICS & VIDS: Lionel Messi marries childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo

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

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

Among the guests at Friday`s wedding were Messi`s Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Neymar, Gerard Pique and his wife, Colombia`s pop star Shakira. A number of guests flew into Rosario on private jets.

The groom`s siblings - Maria Sol, Rodrigo and Matias Messi - served as witnesses in the ceremony, along with the bride`s sisters, Paula and Carla Roccuzzo, Efe news reported.

Argentinian singer Abel Pintos performed one of Roccuzzo`s favorite numbers, "Sin principio ni final (Without beginning or end)" during the exchange of rings.

Argentina`s Clarin newspaper has variously called the wedding "the wedding of the year" and "the wedding of the century".

About 150 journalists received accreditation to enter a special press area, but were not given full access to the venue