Lionel Messi had quite a night at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar after finally lifting the coveted World Cup trophy in his ultimate game at the tournament. We won’t be seeing Messi grace the pitch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals as was confirmed by the man himself, and therefore, this was his last shot at glory. He took it and crowned himself the greatest of all time by leading his beloved Argentina to their third World Cup, and first since the late Diego Maradona won it back in 1986.
The Argentina team soaked themselves in celebrations at the Lusail after an enthralling and never-ending final, which went all the way to the penalty shootouts despite Messi and co thrice leading the tie. The fully-packed Lusail arena too was on its feet, watching the GOAT cement his legacy. And then came a woman full of tears, hugging Lionel Messi in one of the most emotional scenes, who was thought to be his mother, Celia Cuccittini. But that was not just the case.
Argentina team chef shares an emotional hug with Lionel Messi
The video of that elderly woman, running from behind and catching Lionel Messi by surprise to hug him so tightly stormed the internet. Messi too reciprocated the feeling, embracing the woman full of emotions, joy and ecstasy. And even before she could be identified, there was news that she was none other than the woman who gave birth to this 35-year-old legend, his mother Celia.
However, as the celebrations are now cooling down, it has come forward that the woman hugging Messi is not his mother Celia. Argentine reports have now confirmed that the woman is the national team’s chef, Antonia Farias. She has been with the Argentine team and staff all way long in Qatar, taking care of serving an utmost appetite to the eventual champions.
Farias has been a loyal employee of the Argentine National Team for the past decade now, overseeing the diet of Messi and co. She too had an important role to play in the La Albiceleste’s triumph given her significant importance in the dressing room as well apart from the kitchen. Farias is known to be the players’ favourite personality as a result of her ever-optimistic persona.
Lionel Messi hugging Antonia Farías, the head cook of the Argentina national team.pic.twitter.com/Zl87mXBdGI
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) December 21, 2022
Moreover, she also served the team with their favourite food Asado, a barbecue meat dish with a pinch of salt and wine for which Argentina gave-up a five-star hotel stay and chose student accommodation at Qatar University in Doha so that they can enjoy the barbecue. Furthermore, there were also some food poisoning cases reported towards the end of the tournament by many participating nations in England and France, whereas thanks to Farias that the problem didn’t visit the Argentina camp.
Farias has been at a number of tournaments with the Argentina National team, right from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, to the 2021 Copa America and now the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Quite a veteran of her job, and now it seems one of those from the inner circles of Lionel Messi. She celebrated the win extravagantly with the PSG superstar who had scored twice in the final, as he too looked as emotional as Farias while tightly hugging her.