Lionel Messi marries childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo in hometown of Rosario

The name Lucas Scaglia may not mean much to most people but without him, Lionel Messi's marriage to childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo may never have happened.

While playing for Newell's Old Boys as kids, so the story goes, Scaglia and Messi became friends off the pitch.

A young Messi soon began spending an increasing amount of time at the Scaglia family home after laying eyes on his friend's cousin, Antonela Roccuzzo.

The story came full circle Friday, more than 20 years later, when Barcelona star Messi -- arguably the world's best player -- and Roccuzzo tied the knot back where they first met in their hometown of Rosario.

"Being who he is, he could have been married in the best place in the world, and must have had many offers," Enrique Domínguez, Messi's former coach at Newell's Old Boys, told CNN's Ivan Sarmenti.

"He must have had offers so that his wedding, the best moment of his life, could take place where others wanted -- and yet he chose Rosario. "And the place where the wedding is taking place is very close where he was born, he lived and grew up."

Domínguez recalls the painful moment a tearful 12-year-old Messi had to leave Argentina for Spain to undergo treatment for an illness, leaving behind his friends, family, school and Roccuzzo.

Without the financial means to travel between the two countries, it would be a few years until the pair would see each other again.During his early years in the Barcelona first team, Messi's relationship with Roccuzzo was kept under wraps, until the pair -- who are now parents to 4-year-old Thiago and 1-year-old Mateo -- were widely identified as a couple by the world's media before the 2010 World Cup.

Despite spending more than half of his life in Barcelona, Dominguez says he isn't surprised Messi chose to return home to marry.

"That he chose his city, to choose Rosario to come to marry, to bring his companions of Barcelona and other guests to discover the city that saw him grow ... it's just who Leo is," Dominguez says.

"A guy with affection, with memory, a grateful guy because being who he is could have been married in the best place in the world."

Situated almost 300km to the north of Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, Rosario is the third most populous city in the country.

The public was not allowed access to the hotel where the wedding took place, instead watching on big screens in other parts of the city.

Around 250 guests were expected to attend, including Messi's Barcelona teammates Neymar, Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez. Colombian singer Shakira, who is married to Pique, was also expected to be there.

Phyno Talks About His Love For Genevieve Nnaji In Tell-All Interview

Nigerian rapper, Phyno, popular for his musical video, Alobam, actually has a life ambition and that is to marry A-List Nigerian actress, Genevieve Nnaji.
According to the chap who, within a few years, has placed the genre of Igbo rap on a high pedestal on the Nigerian music scale, once told an interviewer recently that if he can achieve his ambition of getting Genny as his own, then he must have accomplished the biggest dream in his life.
This also explains why Phyno repeatedly mentioned Genevieve’s name in his album, “No Guts, No Glory”.
The Nigerian rapper has cleared the air on the alleged song theft involving him and an American singer, Pia Mia and  also spoke on his issues with former label mate, Runtown, saying he’s family and finally talked on his industry crush.
In an interview with Moet Abebe of Soundcity, when asked his type of women, the ‘Alobam’ crooner simply said he doesn’t like ‘LOUD’ girls.
Watch video below

Actresses lead walk against domestic violence

Mercy Aigbe and Tonto Dikeh are both victims of domestic violence and have taken domestic violence awareness to heart.The trio in conjunction with the 1in3 Africa campaign were walking the streets of Lagos yesterday June 30, 2017, to show their displeasure at the high rate of domestic violence cases. Recall that Mercy Aigbe and Tonto Dikeh are both victims of domestic violence and have taken the DV awareness to heart..  

The group kicked off their walk at 10 am under the Falomo Bridge by Awolowo Road, Lagos. This comes after Aigbe took to Instagram writing, "Battery and Assault is a CRIME! #saynodomesticviolence #saynotoassault

Join us in the #1in3Africa campaign, a campaign against violence!  We are walking the streets of lagos to show our displeasure at this menace that is eating deep into our system....... Join us tomorrow by 10am, Start off point is Falomo Bridge by Awolowo Road......
Conflicts should be settled amicably and not through violence, only weak men hit women."