The first decade of the 2000s, characterized by flashy fashion and a celebrity culture that gained popularity through reality TV shows and aggressive paparazzi coverage, also gave rise to the term WAG – an acronym for Wives And Girlfriends.
The term was coined by the British media in the early 2000s to describe the wives and girlfriends of soccer players, including Coleen Rooney (wife of Wayne Rooney), Cheryl (then Tweedy, later Cole), who was in a relationship with England national team soccer player Ashley Cole, and of course, Victoria Beckham.
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She became famous long before her relationship with Kylian Mbappé. Esther Expósito
(צילום: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
They accompanied the rise of a new generation of England stars and became familiar faces in tabloids and holiday paparazzi photos. Around the national team, particularly during the 2006 World Cup, they carved out a place for themselves between the stands and gossip columns, becoming celebrities in their own right. However, they were often portrayed through a misogynistic and degrading lens, with many judged primarily by their partners’ status.
During those years, WAGs marked the first close connection between soccer, celebrity culture and fashion. They were not merely “the partner of,” but part of a media machine selling a lifestyle: designer handbags, high-profile appearances, VIP parties and constant visibility in gossip columns. In many ways, this was the moment when soccer stopped being just a sport and became a full-fledged entertainment industry.
With the return of early-2000s aesthetics and the resurgence of figures from that era, such as Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, the conversation around soccer players’ partners has also become relevant again. In recent years, a new generation of “soccer stars’ wives” has emerged, no longer relying solely on their partner and his career but instead leveraging their fame into careers of their own through brand launches, online sales and collaborations with fashion houses. Some are even more famous than their partners.
Alongside international names such as Georgina Rodríguez and Antonela Roccuzzo, Israel also has its own prominent young generation of “soccer players’ partners,” including Noa Kirel, Neta Alchimister and Coral Simanovich, who have positioned themselves as independent success stories, each in a different field: music, fashion and fashion and beauty businesses. As in the past, their clothing choices continue to receive extensive attention from fashion media. These are the leading figures.
Esther Expósito
The Spanish actress who broke out in the television series “Elite” joined the “soccer stars’ partners” club over the past year after rumors spread and footage emerged of her spending time with France national team soccer player Kylian Mbappé. Although the two have never publicly confirmed that they are a couple, videos from a romantic holiday that appeared in gossip outlets provided evidence of their relationship.
Esther Expósito at the Cannes Film Festival, 2026
(Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Expósito (26), who has been compared to a blend of Scarlett Johansson and iconic Israeli-born international model Vic (Nina Brosh), was famous years before her romance with one of the world’s most talented soccer player. She has appeared in television series and films, led fashion and beauty campaigns for brands including YSL and Bulgari and graced the covers of numerous magazines. Her style choices reflect a deep understanding of fashion, with a wardrobe that is both effortless and subtly sexy.
Esther Expósito on the red carpet, 2026
(Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Prime Video)
Esther Expósito at a Netflix Spain event, 2025
(Photo: Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)
Antonela Roccuzzo
Antonela Roccuzzo is perhaps the classic example of a contemporary WAG who has become a public figure in her own right. Roccuzzo (38) is the wife of No. 10 Lionel Messi and the mother of his three sons. She has accompanied Messi throughout his career, from Rosario, Argentina, to the peaks of world soccer: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and today Inter Miami and the Argentina national team.
Antonela Roccuzzo, Lionel Messi and their children, 2025
(צילום: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The two are considered one of soccer's power couples, and Roccuzzo also maintains a close friendship with Coral Simanovich – a relationship that began when Simanovich’s husband, Sergi Roberto, played alongside Messi at Barcelona. Over the past decade, she has leveraged her fame to become a significant figure in the fashion world, with 40 million followers on Instagram alone.
Antonela Roccuzzo at Louis Vuitton's Fall-Winter 2023-24 show
(Photo: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
Gossip columns often focus on her glamorous appearances during family holidays, but a closer look at her fashion choices reveals a style that moves between relaxed, sporty looks and classic luxury pieces, with clean silhouettes, muted colors and luxury handbags from fashion house Louis Vuitton. Roccuzzo is regularly invited to fashion shows held by luxury conglomerate LVMH and has been seen on numerous occasions in the front row alongside Antoine Arnault, son of the group’s founder Bernard Arnault.
Antonela Roccuzzo at a Tiffany & Co event, 2025
(Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co)
Bruna Biancardi
Brazil may have been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup by Norway, but Neymar still has a reason to celebrate after he and his partner, Bruna Biancardi, announced last month that they are expecting their third daughter. He will become a father for the fifth time, with a son and daughter from previous relationships.
Bruna Biancardi and Neymar at the World Cup, 2026
(Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Biancardi (32) is a popular Instagram influencer with 16 million followers who promotes brands in fashion, beauty and parenting. She has also pushed back against rumors of infidelity involving her partner. Her Instagram account serves as a showcase for a luxury-filled wardrobe, featuring everything from Hermès, Chanel and Dior handbags to body-hugging dresses, tailored suits and eye-catching jewelry.
Bruna Biancardi at Victoria Beckham's Fall-Winter 2023-24 show
(Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Like many soccer stars’ partners, she cultivates an image of glamorous living, exotic holidays and designer looks. However, in her case, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish where her personal taste ends and commercial partnerships begin.
Bruna Biancardi at the Cannes Film Festival, 2024
(Photo: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
Mishel Gerzig
Mishel Gerzig recently earned a spot on Vogue Singapore’s list of WAGs. The Israeli model has become an even more recognizable figure in recent years following her marriage to Real Madrid and Belgium national team goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Gerzig (29) appears in campaigns and attends various fashion shows, and recently sat in the front row at Diesel’s show in Milan, alongside other Israeli celebrities including Eden Pines and Dana Zarmon.
Mishel Gerzig and Thibaut Courtois at Lake Como, 2026
(Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Mishel Gerzig at Diesel's Fall-Winter 2026-27 show at Milan Fashion Week
(Photo: Danielle Sinai Shvadron)
Although she has not established herself as a supermodel, Vogue praised her fashion sense, saying that Gerzig is identified with a polished casual style that appears effortless but is carefully considered. She often wears fitted pieces in neutral shades, alongside streetwear influences with a bold twist. A quick look through her Instagram account reveals a clear affinity for over-the-knee boots, which have become one of the defining elements of her style. In short, even away from the pitch – and certainly in the stands – her style is elegant and precise.
Mishel Gerzig at the premiere of "The Devil Wears Prada 2" in Madrid, 2026
(Photo: David Benito/Getty Images for Disney)
Georgina Rodríguez
Georgina Rodríguez is perhaps the figure most closely associated with the term “soccer player's wife” and one of the few who has successfully turned the title into a consistent and prominent career of her own. Rodríguez (32) has been in a relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo since 2016, when the two met while she was working at a Gucci store in Madrid and he walked in to shop.
Georgina Rodríguez and Cristiano Ronaldo,, 2018
(Photo: AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Whether the story is true or an urban legend, Rodríguez has since used her fame as an influencer, model and regular guest at international fashion events, from runway shows to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Met Gala, where she was first invited in 2025 as a guest of fashion house Vetements. It is no coincidence that her path is often compared to Victoria Beckham’s – who was never merely a “soccer players' wife” but first became famous in her own right as one of the five members of the Spice Girls.
Georgina Rodríguez at the Met Gala, 2026
(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Georgina Rodríguez at the Cannes Film Festival, 2026
(Photo: Aurore Marechal/Getty Images)
Like Beckham, who became a designer, Rodríguez recently launched her own fashion brand, Mimoa – a sportswear and fitness label that she unveiled in a carefully timed marketing move during a Portugal national team World Cup match. Rodríguez wore a black shirt with the Mimoa logo centered on the chest and the number 7, a direct tribute to Ronaldo, along with matching leggings featuring the brand’s symbols. She completed the look with a hat featuring elements associated with the Portugal national team and a luxury Hermès handbag.
Georgina Rodríguez at Valentino's Fall-Winter 2026 show
(Photo: Victor Boyko/Getty Images for Valentino)