Lionel Messi doesn’t forget a face. Earlier this month, at the World Cup match between Argentina and Switzerland, Maia Reficco was honored with handing the referee the coin toss to start the game. Messi greeted her with a smile, getting the internet excited over the unexpected encounter while also bringing to mind the time when Reficco and Messi first met.
The video went viral on social media, showing Reficco greeting the referee and the team captains. Messi looked at her and appeared to recognize her, greeting her with a smile.
In the case of Reficco, she smiled widely, appearing understandably starstruck. Reficco is of Argentinean heritage, with her often discussing her bond with the country.
“I moved to Buenos Aires when I was four… It’s definitely home to me, and I’m very proud to be Argentine. It’s where I’ve found my identity,” she said in an interview with American Studies. While she was born in Boston, her parents are Argentinean, and she was raised there.
In videos shared online, Reficco spoke to the camera, flustered and laughing. “I’m gonna pass out. That was the best moment of my life. We did it!” she said with a friend, who also joined her on the pitch.
According to social media, Reficco and Messi have coincided at previous events. In May of this year, the two were at the Miami Grand Prix, with Reficco crossing paths with him and sharing an emotional reaction over being so close to one of her idols.
She’s also spoken about crossing paths with him in Uruguay, at the vow renewal of Luis Suárez and Sofía Balbi.
© Getty ImagesReficco’s connection to the world of sports
Despite how noteworthy the connection between the two is, uniting the world of international sports with entertainment, Reficco is pretty involved with the world of sports. She’s currently dating the F1 pilot Franco Colapinto, another icon of Argentina.
The two debuted their romance at the Miami Grand Prix, where they were photographed holding hands. Later on, the two were recorded sharing a kiss, with Colapinto confirming the relationship by sharing the clip on social media.
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