Lionel Messi wey be Argentina captain and Inter Miami star, im full name na Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini. But you know say di name no come from nowhere? Na im mama, Celia María Cuccittini, wey tok say she name am after American singer Lionel Richie. According to wetin Celia tell Argentine TV station Telefe for 2010 interview, she and her husband Jorge Messi be big fans of di Grammy-winning singer. Di original plan na to call am ‘Leonel,’ wey be common spelling for Argentina. But Celia decide make she change am to Lionel because of her love for di music legend.
Wetin funny be say Jorge no know about di change until he see di birth certificate. When he come house, Celia say she ‘almost kill am’ but di name remain. So di boy wey go become soccer legend get name wey come from American music star. For years, dis story be one of di most popular trivia for sport, until 2025 when Messi finally meet Lionel Richie for di first time. After Inter Miami win Concacaf Champions Cup against LAFC, di two Lionel come together. Richie post photos for social media with caption: ‘When Lionel meets Lionel! Mom named him after me… And here we are. Great meeting you after all these years.’
Richie don already confirm di story years ago, telling TMZ Sports say he dey ‘honored’ wey one of di greatest soccer players dey named after am. He even encourage Messi after Argentina lose Copa América final for 2016. Now, di name Lionel Messi dey known everywhere, but di real story na about family wey love American music star. Dis story first appear for Athlon Sports for July 19, 2026, for Soccer section.
Another angle wey dey hot na di viral photo of Messi wey dey bathe Lamine Yamal for 2007. Messi call di photo ‘incredible’ and praise di Spanish winger ahead of 2026 World Cup final. Di photo na part of charity calendar wey Sport newspaper and UNICEF produce for FC Barcelona stadium. Yamal, wey now be Barcelona star, face Messi for di first time for international level for di final. Messi say: ‘He’s one of the best in the world right now. I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona’s success, but we’ll try to keep him from playing at his best.’ Di photographer Joan Monfort say interest for di photo don skyrocket, and Mikel Merino, Yamal’s Spain teammate, say di first time he see am, he think na AI. Messi dey feature for im third World Cup final after 2014 and 2022, and he dey tie with Kylian Mbappé for Golden Boot as Argentina try become back-to-back champions.
