Sport: Soccer Country: Argentina Category: Scores & Results

Argentina prohibits parents from naming children Messi despite admiration

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 9, 2026, 1:38 PM

Last updated Jul 9, 2026

Argentina prohibits parents from naming children Messi despite admiration

Summary

Argentine law blocks parents from naming their children Messi, despite the player's immense popularity. A couple in Río Negro made headlines after receiving permission to name their son Messi in 2014, sparking interest in similar requests. As of June 2025, only 11 Argentine citizens have the first name Messi. Instead, many use the name Lionel, with 9,505 born in 2023. Messi recently scored eight goals in the World Cup, further solidifying his legendary status.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•A law from 1969 prohibits using surnames as first names in Argentina.
•The only exemptions have occurred in select cases, such as Messi David Varela.
•Lionel remains a popular choice, reflecting Messi's influence on Argentine culture.
•Messi scored eight goals during the ongoing World Cup, leading the tournament.
•Approximately 9,505 children were named Lionel in Argentina in 2023.

Latest Updates

1:38 PMYahoo Sports — World Cup: Argentina loves Messi ... it just won't let parents name their kids after him

What they're saying

"
While Argentine supporters have paid tribute to the legendary soccer player in a number of ways, Argentine law prohibits turning Messi's surname into a first name.
— Yahoo Sportsby Jeff Eisenberg

Related Teams & Leagues

Soccer