It’s one of the biggest stages in all of sports but nearly two weeks into the World Cup and some of the biggest stars of soccer and beyond have been happy to share center stage with their kids.
Take Lionel Messi, now the highest scorer in the history of the competition after his two goals led Argentina to a 2-0 win over Austria this week. His wife and childhood sweetheart, Antonela, has been joined in the stands by his three sons for both of Argentina’s games so far.
She has proudly shared pictures of the young family cheering Messi on from their VIP suite but the most endearing footage emerged after his hat-trick against Algeria in Kansas City.
As Messi scored his third goal for his first World Cup hat-trick ever, Antonela was distracted by two of her sons, Mateo and Thiago, bickering and chasing each other around in their Argentina jerseys.
The video shows her desperately trying to calm them both down, seemingly taking them to one side to remind them to behave with the eyes of the world never too far away from the family.
It’s a feeling that might have been shared by Shakira, who had one of the best seats in the house for Argentina’s second game in Dallas on Monday.
Messi’s wife Antonela with sons Thiago, 13, Matteo, 10, and Ciro, 8 at Dallas Stadium
As cameras turned to the Colombian pop star, who performed in the opening ceremony in Mexico City to kickstart the tournament, her teenage son wrapped his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek.
He was wearing a cap and sunglasses and there were a number of viewers across the world who saw the moment and weren’t immediately sure who it was. They were relieved to find out it was her son Milan, 13.
The singer looked a little bit flustered by what happened but a few minutes later, cameras returned to Shakira once again as the singer, 49, waved to fans without being interrupted.
Plenty of other stars on the field have been seen enjoying making the tournament a family affair.
Belgium star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois arrived for his team’s first game against Egypt in Seattle alongside his wife Mishel and their daughter, Ellie.
For the next Belgium game, against Iran in Los Angeles, playmaker Kevin De Bruyne had wife Michelle with their two sons Rome and Mason for the 0-0 draw.
Brazil superstar Neymar hasn’t been able to make it out onto the field just yet due to a calf injury. The team are hopeful he can feature in the final group game against Scotland in Miami on Wednesday.
But as the striker has had to bide his time, family has kept him focused. His influencer girlfriend Bianca Biancardi, who is pregnant with their third child, was seen greeting him on the sideline with their daughter Mel, born last July, before the first game against Morocco at the New York/New Jersey stadium.
Shakira’s teenage son grabbed her and kissed her on cheek when she was television
Neymar greets daughter Mel and partner Bruna Biancardi before Brazil drew with Morocco
Brady and daughter Vivienne were in the stands that day, cheering Brazil on near New York
When Biancardi and Neymar eventually welcome their next child, it will be Neymar’s fifth overall. He also has a son with ex-girlfriend Carolina Dantas and a daughter with the model Amanda Kimberlly.
Sat in the stands for the Brazil vs Morocco game, which ended in a 1-1 tie, was Tom Brady. He took his daughter Vivienne with him and cameras caught the doting dad performing a handshake together during a break in play.
Brady also brought his sons, Benjamin and Jack, with him to the game.
Elsewhere, away from the majority of the cameras, there was an endearing moment during the Netherlands’ practice the day after their 2-2 draw with Japan.
Captain Virgil van Dijk and his defensive teammate Nathan Ake brought Ake’s daughter onto the practice field to play alongside some of the stars on the team.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and wife Mishel Gerzig with daughter Ellie before their opening World Cup game against Egypt in Seattle
Netherlands defender Nathan Ake brought his daughter onto the practice field
She ended up playing against the team’s captain, the Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, hasn’t immediately been joined by his children in the United States.
The Portugal hero’s partner, Georgina Rodriguez, shared a video on June 13 of two of their young children, Eva and Mateo, celebrating their birthdays this year without their dad, who was already in the US for the games.
The 41-year-old had a difficult start without them. He struggled to recapture the form that has made him one of the most feared players ever in a disappointing 1-1 draw with DR Congo for his team’s opening game.
But he was back with a bang in game two, against Uzbekistan with two goals in the first half alone.
The 2022 World Cup ended with Messi finally getting his hands on the trophy that had eluded his otherwise all-conquering career.
Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne’s father, wife and kids watch him vs Iran on Sunday
The last World Cup ended with Messi and his family posing for pictures with the World Cup
Surrounded by his family on the field in Qatar after a breathtaking final against France, they all posed for a picture as one in what many consider to be the crowning moment of his career.
Now, with five goals to his name in just two games, he’s shown he is not going to relinquish the title without a fight.
And with his biggest cheerleaders alongside him every step of the way, it will take a serious effort to stop the Messi family having another picture with the World Cup trophy in July.
