Soccer star Lionel Messi raised eyebrows during the US Open Cup final last week after the Argentine was spotted on the sideline with a mystery girl. 

Messi, 36, was ruled out of Inter Miami’s cup final defeat to Houston Dynamo due to injury but was at DRV PNK Stadium to cheer on his new team from the stands.

The forward was spotted stood alongside stunning wife Antonela Roccuzzo, who held a young girl in her arms.

The youngster wore a pink Inter Miami shirt with ‘Papi’ on the back and was held by Antonela, while Messi beamed at her.

The unknown identity of the toddler caught fans’ attention as some speculated if the couple, who already share three sons, had welcomed a daughter.

Lionel Messi was spotted on the sideline with a mystery baby girl at the US Open Cup final

Messi stood alongside stunning wife Antonela Roccuzzo, who held a young girl in her arms

However, it was later revealed that the young girl was not in fact the latest addition to the Messi clan but rather his teammate Jordi Alba’s daughter, Bruna.

Alba, who previously played alongside Messi at Barcelona, has three children with wife, Romarey Ventura, son Piero, daughter Bruna and another son Paolo, who they welcomed in July ahead of the soccer player’s move to Miami.

Antonela’s embrace with Bruna shows the close friendship between the two families.

Messi, Alba, and Inter Miami and former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, along with their partners are good friends with the families regularly spending time together.

Messi recently hinted at his desire to welcome a daughter, refusing to rule out having another baby with Antonela.

The soccer superstar was asked if he and Antonela, a model and influencer, would consider having another baby by Argentinian comedian Migue Granados during an interview on OLGA. 

And Messi, who had welcomed Granados into his Miami home to film the segment, teased the arrival of a baby girl.

It was later revealed that the girl was Jordi Alba and wife Romarey Ventura’s daughter, Bruna

Antonela’s embrace with Bruna shows the close friendship between the two families

‘We’re not trying, but I don’t know [if the factory has closed],’ he admitted. ‘We’ll see if a baby girl arrives.’

Messi and Antonela welcomed their first son Thiago into the world in 2012 before having two more sons Mateo (2015) and Ciro (2018).

Messi’s eldest son Thiago is already following in his father’s footsteps after joining Inter Miami’s academy in August.

But Messi revealed that Thiago is more of a mama’s boy, as he said his three sons all have very different personalities.

‘They have different personalities,’ Messi said. ‘Thiago, when he comes on the field to play, he doesn’t look at you.’

‘Mateo. He comes on, he greets the crowd, applauds. They’re different characters.’

Meanwhile, he claimed Ciro, his youngest, is somewhat of an unknown as the youngster is still growing into himself.

‘The youngest is terrible,’ he joked. ‘He’s only five years old, and he’s not yet defined.’

Messi added: ‘Mateo you have to stop, he talks to you and doesn’t stop. Ciro is more reserved. He tells you things but not about himself, he talks about others.’

He added that Thiago is very close to his mom, saying: ‘Thiago has trouble talking much, he’s glued to Antonela… Thiago is sensitive.’

Messi went on to praise his wife, hailing her as a dedicated mother to their three kids.

‘She’s a great mother. The truth is, she with them 24/7, I’m away a lot. Sometimes I’m gone a month, month and a half, she’s there everyday.’

Messi and Antonela already share three sons together – Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5

Messi has opened up on family life, revealing his three sons all have very different personalities

Messi and Antonela met for the first time in the 90s in their hometown, Rosario. The Argentine was just five years old when he met the love of his life.

Antonela was the cousin of Messi’s childhood friend Lucas Scaglia. The two love birds ended up spending a substantial amount of time together when they were young.

Messi and Antonela’s relationship blossomed during their younger years and the pair kept in contact when the No. 10 left for Barcelona at the age of 13. Then, in 2008, Messi and Antonela made their relationship public.

The pair tied the not in 2017 in a lavish wedding at a luxury hotel in the heart of Rosario.