Hollywood star Anya Taylor-Joy has made no secret of her deep connection to Argentina and her admiration for football legend Lionel Messi. The acclaimed actress, who rose to global fame through her breakthrough role in "The Queen's Gambit," has repeatedly expressed her desire to meet the Argentine football icon, a dream she shares with millions of fans around the world.
Born in Miami but raised with Argentine roots, Taylor-Joy's bond with the South American nation runs far deeper than casual fandom. Her father is of Argentine descent, and she spent her first six years in Buenos Aires before her family relocated to London. The transition was so difficult for young Anya that she initially refused to learn English, holding onto hope that she would one day return to the country she still considers home.
Throughout her rise to Hollywood stardom, Taylor-Joy has consistently embraced her Argentine heritage. She speaks Spanish fluently with an authentic Argentine accent and frequently gives interviews in the language. During the 2022 World Cup, she captured hearts across Latin America when she appeared at a match wearing Argentina's national team jersey, alongside her husband wearing matching apparel. The images quickly went viral on social media, with Argentine fans celebrating her as one of their own.
In a 2024 interview, Taylor-Joy opened up about her emotional experience watching Argentina's World Cup victory. She recalled being in Los Angeles during the final match, unable to sit still as the drama unfolded on screen. It was around six in the morning in California when she found herself pacing the room and waking up friends just so she could share the moment with others. The match, she said, was absolutely extraordinary and still fills her with excitement when she thinks about it.
The 28-year-old actress has also made her presence felt at recent international football events. During the 2026 World Cup, she attended matches between the United States and Paraguay, once again drawing attention not just for her celebrity status but for her unmistakable display of Argentine pride. Her appearance wearing the national team jersey reignited conversations about her cultural identity and the genuine affection she holds for her father's homeland.
Taylor-Joy's journey from a reluctant English learner in London to one of Hollywood's most sought-after performers is remarkable in its own right. Her career began unexpectedly when she was discovered by a modeling agent while walking the streets of London. She transitioned into acting and landed her first major role in the 2015 horror film "The Witch," which put her on the radar of critics and audiences alike.
She followed that success with notable performances in films including "Split," "Glass," and "Emma." However, it was her starring role as chess prodigy Beth Harmon in Netflix's "The Queen's Gambit" that catapulted her to global stardom. The series became a cultural phenomenon, earning Taylor-Joy critical acclaim and prestigious awards including a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Critics have described her as one of the most powerful performers of her generation.
Since then, she has continued to build an impressive filmography with major projects such as "The Menu," "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," and voice work in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." Despite her success in Hollywood's glamorous circles, Taylor-Joy has never distanced herself from her Argentine roots. She embraces her Latin American identity at a time when such backgrounds can sometimes prove challenging in the entertainment industry.
Recently, Taylor-Joy made headlines again when she engaged in fluent Spanish conversation with an Argentine journalist at the Japanese Grand Prix. The video quickly amassed millions of views across social media platforms, showcasing not only her language skills but her genuine comfort speaking in her father's native tongue. Fans were delighted to hear her use Argentine expressions and pronunciation, reinforcing the authenticity of her cultural connection.
While she has achieved remarkable success in her career, meeting Lionel Messi remains a personal goal for the actress. Her admiration for the football superstar is deeply intertwined with her love for Argentina and her pride in her heritage. For Taylor-Joy, Messi represents more than sporting excellence, he embodies the spirit of a nation she holds close to her heart.
The actress continues to balance her Hollywood career with her Argentine identity in a way that feels natural and genuine. She never misses an opportunity to speak about her childhood in Buenos Aires, her Spanish-speaking upbringing, or her emotional ties to the country. Her fans in Argentina and across the Spanish-speaking world have embraced her as one of their own, celebrating her success while appreciating her refusal to hide her roots.
As she continues to take on challenging roles and expand her artistic range, Taylor-Joy's connection to Argentina and her dream of meeting Lionel Messi remain constant threads in her public persona. Whether on the red carpet, in interviews, or at football matches, she carries her heritage with visible pride, making her a unique and beloved figure in both Hollywood and Latin American popular culture.
Her story resonates with many who navigate multiple cultural identities, showing that success and fame do not require abandoning one's origins. For Anya Taylor-Joy, Argentina is not just a memory from childhood; it is a living, breathing part of who she is, and her admiration for Messi is simply one expression of that enduring love.
