The story of Miguel Almirón and Alexia began in Asunción on an ordinary afternoon, when Alexia attended her brother Alejandro’s youth soccer match at the Cerro Porteño Academy. Persuaded by her cousin to come along, Alexia found herself watching not her brother, but a player wearing the number 10 jersey.
“At that time I had a BlackBerry and I lost all reception and ran out of battery,” Alexia recalled. “The second half of my brother’s match started and I set down the phone and start watching the game.
“As I’m watching the game I see a kid wearing the number 10 jersey, and he was running from one end to the other end, and from that end to the other, and back again.”
Despite being short-sighted, Alexia said she felt drawn to this player’s style. She later learned his name was Miguel Almirón.
“I don’t think she fell in love with me for my face, of that I’m sure,” joked Almirón, now 31.
Their relationship developed quickly after Alexia sent him a Facebook request. Soon after, they met in person at her home. Her brother Alejandro remembered receiving a call from their father about Miguel’s visit: “I get a call from my dad who tells me a teammate of mine is here at home. He passes over the phone and it was Miguel.” Alejandro noted that while he pretended to be upset about it, he sensed that Miguel was genuine.
When Almirón transferred to Lanús in Argentina, both faced a significant decision about their future together. They chose to stay together despite challenges. Alexia moved with Miguel as his football career progressed internationally. During his time at Newcastle United in England, Alexia experienced personal loss during the COVID-19 pandemic when her grandfather died and travel restrictions prevented her from returning to Paraguay.
“I realized that I was pregnant as I fell into a depression for my grandfather’s passing,” said Alexia. “It was hard, I cried every day. Miguel was playing, and at the same time I had to take care of the baby, make sure he was healthy, know that his little heart was beating.”
“Francesco was God’s gift,” she added.
Their son Francesco became an important part of their lives during this difficult period. The couple focused on providing him with stability despite frequent moves between countries for Almirón’s football career. They prioritized family connections through visits and calls between Paraguay, Newcastle, and Atlanta.
Miguel Almirón’s achievements on the field are often highlighted publicly; however, both say that support within their family has been crucial throughout his career developments and challenges.
Through changes in teams and locations across continents—including holidays spent reconnecting with relatives—the family has emphasized resilience over perfection or fairytale narratives. For them, maintaining strong bonds has remained central regardless of distance or professional demands.
Their experience reflects how personal relationships can underpin public success in professional sports environments marked by scrutiny and change.
