New Delhi:
It was a big day for the people of Rosario as they finally got to witness football star Lionel Messi tie the knot with his childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo.
Football and showbiz stars gathered to join the celebrations of what has been termed as 'wedding of the century', in a civil ceremony at a luxury hotel in the heart of Rosario.
Among the 260 guests at Friday's wedding were Messi's Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Neymar, Gerard Piqué and his wife, Colombia's pop star Shakira. Apart from this Messi's former colleagues like Cesc Fabregas, and Dani Alves joined to rise the craze of the evening.
Locals stood awestruck as they watched Suarez and other soccer stars coming out of thier private jets on Thursday at Rosario's airport. Around 300 police officers were deployed at key points in the gritty port city to ensure the safe arrival of the guests.
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Organizers say 157 journalists have been accredited to cover the bash, but have been warned they will have no access to the guests. Security was handled by a private team of Israeli specialists used by Messi for all his excursions.
Brunette bride Roccuzzo, 29, looked nothing less than fairytale in a dress by Rosa Clara -- a Spanish designer who has dressed actress Eva Longoria and Spain's Queen Letizia.
After the ceremony, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and his wife posed on the red carpet themselves for the Barcelona star's adoring fans.
Messi's love for Rosario
Messi met the love of his life at the age of five in Rosario and this city of 1.2 million people is also a cradle of footballing talent which makes it more special for him.
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"Rosario lives and breathes football. That is another reason Lionel feels so comfortable here", the city's mayor, Monica Fein, told AFP.
"I think he is excited that through his wedding his friends (from abroad) will be able to get to know the city he loves so much."
