As Lionel Messi prepares for what could be one of the final World Cup appearances of his career, longtime admirer Suzy Cortez is making plans of her own.
Cortez confirmed to Brazilian outlet Band that she is traveling to the United States for the tournament, which begins in June, to support Messi and Argentina rather than her native Brazil.
While most soccer players would be grateful for Cortez’s allegiance to the club, her travel plans revive one of the stranger celebrity-adjacent stories that have followed Messi over the past decade.
For years, Cortez has publicly aligned herself with Messi. The Brazilian model, who first gained international attention after winning Miss Bumbum, frequently posted tributes to the Argentine star during his years with FC Barcelona. She has spoken openly about her admiration for him and has even gotten tattoos in his honor.
Cortez had posted photos of herself wearing Messi jerseys and later claimed Roccuzzo viewed the posts as crossing a line.
“I was always just a fan,” Cortez previously said. “I never disrespected him.”
The dispute resurfaced late last year after Cortez said she was unable to attend the MLS Cup final featuring Messi’s club, Inter Miami CF. Cortez later said she felt “humiliated” by the experience and suggested she believed Roccuzzo had intervened.
She now says she intends to seek answers if she encounters the Messi family during her FIFA World Cup trip.
Cortez’s trip comes during a particularly active moment in Messi’s career away from the field. Just days before Cortez announced her World Cup plans, Messi made headlines for acquiring UE Cornellà, a fifth-division club outside Barcelona.
In a statement to Fox Sports announcing the purchase, the club described Messi’s involvement as “the beginning of a new chapter” built around long-term growth and ties to the local community.
