Football: The low-down on Lionel Messi's wedding

Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (centre) and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo are to wed on June 30 in his home town of Rosario. PHOTO: AFP

Rosario, Argentina (AFP) - Football and showbiz stars will gather in northern Argentina on Friday for Latin America's celebrity wedding bash of the decade when Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi marries his childhood sweetheart, Antonella Roccuzzo.

Here is what we know from the few details given by Messi's spokesman as well as media reports and local people close to the event in his home town of Rosario.

1) Shakira and friends

Singer Shakira (left) passing their son Milan to Barcelona's Gerard Pique before the Spanish first division soccer match between Barcelona and Eibar at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Oct 18, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS

Colombian pop star Shakira and her husband, Messi's team-mate defender Gerard Pique are expected among the 260 guests.

They will join old friends of the couple and footballers like Barcelona strike partners Luis Suarez and Neymar are also set to attend.

2) The Dress

Bride Roccuzzo, 29, will wear a dress by Spanish designer Rosa Clara, which has been flown over from Barcelona.

Models wearing intricately designed wedding dresses designed by Spanish designer Rosa Clara. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/ROSA CLARA

The designer has dressed stars such as American actress Eva Longoria and Colombian actress Sofia Vergara as well as Queen Letizia of Spain.

3) Casino hotel

View of the venue in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina on June 23, 2017, where Barcelona's football star Lionel Messi and Antonella Roccuzzo will get married on June 30. PHOTO: AFP

The guests will pack into the City-Center, a casino-hotel complex, next to a crime-ridden slum run by drug gangs.

The civil wedding ceremony and party will all take place inside the venue, and the guests will be lodged there too.

4) Roasted gizzards

Messi, 30, has reportedly asked chefs to cook local delicacies such as "locro" stew and "empanada" pasties for the feast.

The star dish is a typical Argentinian beef roast including chitterlings, gizzards and kidneys.

5) Latin pop

Argentinian singer Karina gesturing to a large group of concertgoers. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KARIPRINCEOFICIAL

Uruguayan pop bands Rombai and Marama plus Argentinian singer Karina, wife of Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, will perform at the dance.

It is not known whether the guests will also get a song from Shakira, the Colombian div famous for songs like "Whenever, Wherever" and "Hips Don't Lie".

6) Security and media

Guests' security will be handled by a private team of Israeli specialists used by Messi for all his excursions.

Some 155 journalists have been accredited to cover the bash, but have been warned they will have no access to the guests.

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