Lionel Messi's sister María Sol Messi was seriously injured in a traffic accident, prompting the postponement of a scheduled wedding. Her life is not in danger, but it is reported that she will need a significant amount of time to recover.
According to reports on the 24th (Korean time) by British and Argentine local media, María Sol Messi recently suffered a driving accident in Miami, U.S., and is receiving hospital treatment. Argentine broadcaster Ángel de Brito said on a TV program and to local media, "I contacted Messi's mother Celia Cuchitini directly. She has passed the dangerous stage, but a long period of rehabilitation is unavoidable."
There are somewhat conflicting explanations about the circumstances of the accident. According to what has been reported, María Sol Messi lost control while driving and collided with a wall.
Some reports say she was driving a pickup truck, while early reports mentioned the possibility of a motorcycle accident, so the exact situation requires further confirmation. However, injuries severe enough to require spinal fracture and burn treatment have been confirmed, and possible fractures to the heel and wrist were also mentioned.
The accident also inevitably affected the wedding schedule. María Sol Messi was due to marry Inter Miami U-19 team coach Julián 'Tuli' Arellano on Jan. 3 next year in Rosario, Argentina, but it is reported that the date has been postponed so she can focus on rehabilitation. Rosario is a special city for the Messi family.
Messi also held his wedding to his wife Antonela Roccuzzo in the same place, and the whole family had planned to attend this wedding.
María Sol Messi has worked as a fashion designer and entrepreneur. She has kept a relatively low public profile and lived a quiet life, and in the past she worked as a brand manager at her brother's brand "The Messi Store," collaborating with Virginia Hilfiger, the sister of global designer Tommy Hilfiger. She once lived in Spain and now is based in Argentina pursuing personal projects.
The family's attention is now entirely on her recovery. Local media reported, "The most important thing at this stage is sufficient rehabilitation and stability," adding, "The wedding is a matter for later." Messi is also reportedly staying close to his family and monitoring the situation amid Inter Miami CF's schedule.
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