Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo Use a Columnar-Tree Trick for Poolside Privacy – The 2026 Seclusion Tren...

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Credit: Florencia Tan Jun – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Finding the perfect balance between backyard seclusion and luxury elegance is the ultimate landscaping challenge – even more so when you happen to be Lionel Messi.

Rather than surrounding their family swimming pool with brick walls or wooden fences, soccer player Lionel Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo opted for Columnar Poplars (classified as the Lombardy Poplar), which are available at Amazon. This is a brilliant botanical alternative that, according to horticultural experts, is resetting the luxury design blueprint.

Framing their pool area is a tightly knit living wall of tall columnar trees that serve as a masterclass in garden privacy. The result is more vibrant, lush, and organic than harsher fencing alternatives – exemplified here in their Argentinian home.

Shop the Messi-Inspired Pool Edit

Lombardy Poplar Tree Cuttings for Planting

If you’re looking to add height and privacy to your yard, it’s hard to beat Lombardy poplars. With their tall, slender silhouette and fast-growing habit, they create an elegant, architectural backdrop that instantly gives an outdoor space a more established feel.

From $42.95 at Amazon

A tulip poplar is the kind of tree that makes an instant statement. Known for its tall, graceful form and distinctive tulip-shaped leaves, it brings structure, shade, and (most importantly) privacy, to any yard or pool area.

From $149.95 at Plant Addicts

Kviter American Arborvitae Tree Seeds

If you’re hoping to recreate the lush greenery surrounding Messi’s home, American arborvitae is another great option to start with. Its evergreen foliage creates a beautifully private backdrop, while the tall, upright growth habit adds structure and year-round color to any landscape.

From $6.99 at Amazon

All-Weather Wicker Chaise

Inspired by the loungers by Messi’s pool, this curved design proves that comfort and style go hand in hand. The flowing silhouette taps into one of this summer’s biggest outdoor trends, while the woven wicker finish gives it a timeless, resort-style look.

Was $354.99, now $329.99 at Wayfair

Sorrento Outdoor Chaise Lounge

If you love the look of metal-framed furniture but want something a little softer, this contemporary design strikes the perfect balance. It has an effortless European feel, yet pairs just as beautifully with vintage-inspired pieces, retro prints, and more collected interiors.

From $759.20 at West Elm

Martha Stewart Bedford Wicker Chaise Lounge

A chaise lounge is the foundation of any well-designed pool area. This woven wicker frame feels timeless, while the weather-resistant cushion is made for everyday use, and the adjustable positions let you find the perfect angle for sunbathing.

Was $369, now $324.94 at Wayfair

‘What makes Lionel and Antonela’s choice so smart is how it forces us to rethink traditonal fences,’ comments Tenielle Jordison, a Gardens Content Editor at Homes & Gardens.

‘Traditional hardscape fencing can easily make a luxury pool deck feel boxed-in or clinical. However, by opting for columnar poplars, they’ve created a barrier that feels more alive. It serves as a softer green tapestry, providing total seclusion without sacrificing the landscape’s beauty.’

Plus, as Tenielle explains, you don’t need an expansive pool area (or any pool at all) to follow Messi’s example.

‘Achieving this high-end ‘anti-fence’ aesthetic relies entirely on choosing trees with a strict, narrow upright habit,’ she says.

‘While the Poplar is the best for that fluttering, breezy movement (seen here), you can adapt this luxury look to your specific climate. For example, if you’re in a more arid zone, Italian Cypresses (like these from Plant Addicts) will give you that same sharp, columnar privacy.’

Whether you opt for the Lombardy Poplar or the more architectural elegance of the Italian Cypress, the lesson from the Messi estate is clear: True poolside luxury is about blending security with natural beauty. Use their home as the ultimate blueprint this summer.

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