Home Football Lionel Messi discusses the difficult decision he and his wife Antonela made to relocate from Barcelona to Miami without their favorite dog, Hulk

Lionel Messi discusses the difficult decision he and his wife Antonela made to relocate from Barcelona to Miami without their favorite dog, Hulk

Football — 09/26/2023

The expensive anguish of having to leave the family’s pet Bordeaux Mastiff at his house in Barcelona came with Lionel Messi’s departure to the MLS.

The seven-year-old mutt’s health played a role in the decision to leave Hulk behind, Argentine comedian Migue Granados revealed this past weekend after interviewing the 2023 World Cup champion at his Miami residence.

After last Thursday’s interview for his program on the streaming network OLGA, Granados made a joke about packing their beloved poodle Abu into a backpack and demanding a sizable ransom. This is when Granados learned of the family’s decision.

However, he was taken aback when the Hulk failed to appear.

I questioned him about the location of the bull, and he replied, “He’s in Barcelona; Hulk is there.” He is somewhat elderly. As a result, we had to leave him at our Barcelona home, Granados said.

Lionel Messi plays with the family's seven-year-old Bordeaux Mastiff, Hulk, who didn't join them on the move from Barcelona to Miami this summer

Messi welcomed Hulk to his family in 2016

In 2016, Messi, then 36, adopted Hulk as a puppy and posted an Instagram photo of him cuddling the dog.

Messi then referred to a player as a “new member of my family.” “Thank you, love, for this lovely gift.”

On social media, he and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo frequently posted images and videos of their puppy, but they haven’t done so since Messi returned to Spain in 2021 while playing for PSG to recover from an injury.

The seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or took into account the strain Hulk would be under after the cross-continent move in July.

Hulk “is on the verge” of maybe needing to be put to sleep, according to Messi, who told Granados.

Messi rests at his Barcelona home with the family pet dog, Hulk, a seven-year-old Bordeaux Mastiff

 

Messi's pet Bordeaux Mastiff, Hulk, is seven years old. They have a life span of five to eight years, but in some cases there are some who live up to 11

 

Messi plays with Hulk in the family's home. For now, Hulk is being looked after by the staff at the luxurious home in Castelldefels, a suburb 12 miles away from Cam Nou

A mature Bordeaux Mastiff can reach a height of 27 inches and a weight of 110 pounds. Although some live to be 11, their lifespan is between five and eight years.

Hulk is currently being taken care of by the employees at the opulent house in Castelldefels, a neighborhood 12 miles from Cam Nou. Meanwhile, Messi, who plays for Inter Miami CF, has emerged as the face of MLS in the US.

During the interview, Messi revealed that his three sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, are dropped off at school at 7 a.m. on school days.

Then, he and his wife go back to their house for a nap or to watch their favorite television programs. On other days, he travels there to work out with Inter Miami in the morning. Before taking Thiago and Mateo to soccer practice at the club’s academy, they both pick up the kids at 3 o’clock.

Messi also mentioned the likelihood of growing the family.

We would like, the man replied. We’re not involved in the hunt, although we’d prefer it if the girl showed up.