Lionel Messi plans for his big day

Lionel Messi prepares for his wedding day

Football superstar Lionel Messi will marry his childhood sweetheart in his hometown in Argentina on Friday.

The Barcelona player is returning to the city of Rosario to wed Antonella Roccuzzo, whom he met there before he moved to Spain aged 13.

Argentine newspaper Clarín has called it "the wedding of the year" and even "the wedding of the century".

Messi's teammates, including Luis Suárez and Neymar, will be among the 260 guests, it said.

Many have flown in on private jets.

Extra police officers have been drafted in to ensure security is maintained around the hotel, while a private security firm will work inside to keep out any potential gatecrashers.

Around 150 journalists have received accreditation to enter a special press area, but will not have full access to the venue, said organisers.

Messi, 30, met his future wife when he was just five years old.

She is the cousin of his best friend, Lucas Scaglia, who also became a professional football player.

Messi accepted an offer to play for Barcelona when he was 13, on condition they pay for treatment for his growth hormone deficiency.

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He has spoken about the difficulties he faced on leaving behind his loved ones and former club.

The couple, who now live in Barcelona, have two sons together.

In May, his appeal against a 21-month jail term for tax evasion in Spain was rejected. He is unlikely to go to prison as the sentence can be served under probation or possibly avoided by paying a fine.