From Erling Haaland to Harry Kane, 5 of the sweetest footballer meet-cutes

While every football fan knows the scores and star players, fewer know the love stories that unfold away from the pitch. From childhood crushes and chance meetings to long-distance relationships and fairy-tale weddings, these football stars have found lasting love beyond the game, which HELLO! India deep dives into this football season.

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1. Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo

Their love story began in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina, when Messi was nine and Antonela was eight. As a child, Messi famously wrote her a letter saying, "One day, you will be my girlfriend." Their relationship endured years of long distance, personal loss, and the demands of Messi's rising football career, while Antonela pursued studies in dentistry. The couple married in a fairy-tale ceremony in 2017 and are now parents to three sons.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez

Their modern-day romance began in 2016 when Ronaldo met Georgina while she was working as a sales assistant at a Gucci store in Madrid. Both have described it as "love at first sight." The couple made their first public appearance together in 2017 and welcomed their first child later that year. Since then, Georgina has built a successful career as a model, entrepreneur, and social media personality. In 2025, Ronaldo proposed, and the family now lives in Riyadh with their five children.

3. Erling Haaland and Isabel Haugseng Johansen

One of football's most private couples, Erling Haaland and Isabel Haugseng Johansen first met while playing in the youth academy at Norwegian club Bryne FK. Isabel was regarded as one of the club's most promising young players before Haaland's career took him to Manchester City. The couple welcomed their first child at the end of 2024 and now live in Manchester. They maintain a low profile and rarely appear on social media, making only occasional public appearances.

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4. Harry Kane and Katie Goodland

Harry Kane and Katie Goodland's love story began at Larkswood Primary School in East London, where Kane was 12 and Goodland was 11. Childhood friends and neighbours, they began dating in 2011 as Kane's football career started to take off. Kane proposed during a holiday in the Bahamas in 2017, and the couple married in 2019. Today, they are proud parents to four children.

5. Paulo Dybala and Oriana Sabatini

Although Dybala is not part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, his romance with singer, actress, and model Oriana Sabatini remains one of football's most beloved love stories. The couple began dating in 2018 after Dybala discovered Oriana on social media. Despite navigating a long-distance relationship, Oriana eventually moved to Italy to be closer to him. In 2023, Dybala proposed in front of Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain, and their wedding quickly became one of Argentina's most celebrated celebrity events.

Text by Tamanna Jain

Edited by Dayle Pereira-Alemao

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