The night Patrick Stewart ignored Cristiano Ronaldo for a magical moment with Lionel Messi and his wife
Stewart had one mission that evening: introduce his wife to Lionel Messi, and the encounter turned into an unforgettable memory
S ir Patrick Stewart’s passing has brought renewed attention to a charming story that revealed another side of the celebrated actor: his determination to make a special introduction for his wife, even with some of football’s biggest names standing nearby.
The Star Trek and X-Men star died aged 86 at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday following what his family described as a “brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Among the memories being revisited is Stewart’s encounter with Lionel Mess i at the Best FIFA Football Awards in London on October 23, 2017.
Cristiano Ronaldo collected the evening’s prestigious men’s award, while Stewart appeared onstage alongside former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly to present the FIFA Fair Play award.
However, the actor’s most memorable moment happened after the ceremony. Stewart had attended with his wife, singer Sunny Ozell , who’d developed an interest in football because of her admiration for Messi .
Determined to make her evening unforgettable, he set out to introduce her to the Argentine superstar.
A determined mission to meet Messi
Getting close to the footballers proved far from straightforward. Stewart later explained that security was exceptionally tight, with Messi, Ronaldo and Argentine legend Diego Maradona among those attending.
Nevertheless, the actor made his way along the front row, calling out his own name in the hope that someone would recognise him and allow him through.
Ronaldo was the first footballer to notice him. The Portuguese superstar appeared to recognize Stewart , but the actor had another target in mind. He couldn't see Messi anywhere, as the Argentine had bent down behind his seat and disappeared from view.
Stewart decided to wait until Messi stood up and turned around. When the moment finally arrived, the two found themselves face to face.
“I stood behind him and then he stood up and turned around and we were face to face,” said Stewart .
“This is emotional to me. He just breathed into my face and I said ‘Senor Messi. Por favor. Mi esposa’.”
“They shook hands and then I said ‘Can I please take a photograph of the two of you together?’
“I took the photo, not a selfie, I took a photo of Lionel Messi and my wife side by side and then his wife said ‘And I want a photograph with you!’”
The story has resurfaced as fans celebrate Stewart’s extraordinary life and career. Although internationally recognized as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, his achievements extended well beyond Hollywood.
His six-decade career included Shakespearean theatre, Broadway and acclaimed television performances. Tributes from Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen and William Shatner have highlighted his impact.
Stewart is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell , and his two children, Sophia and Daniel . His family has requested donations to dementia research and caregiver support organizations in his memory.
