Lionel Messi

Messi in 2011, photo by Natursports / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini

Place of Birth: Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina

Date of Birth: 24 June, 1987

Ethnicity: Argentinian [Italian, as well as Catalan, Spanish, possibly other]

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian professional footballer. He is considered one of the best players of the sport. He plays as a forward for, and captains, Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team, both. He has also played for Barcelona C, Barcelona B, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain, and captained Barcelona. With Argentina, he won the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics; and holds the record for most goals in La Liga. He has won seven Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. He has also been an endorser for sportswear company Adidas. He is also known as Leo Messi.

Lionel is the son of Celia María Cuccittini and Jorge Horacio Messi Pérez, a steel factory manager. His cousins are professional footballers Maxi Biancucchi and Emanuel Biancucchi. He moved to Spain at thirteen to play for Barcelona. He is married to social media personality Antonella Roccuzzo, with whom he has three children. Pictures of Lionel’s grandparents and relatives can be seen here and here. He is a citizen of Argentina, Italy, and Spain.

Lionel’s paternal grandfather was Eusebio Italo Messi Baró (the son of Aniceto Antonio Messi and Santa Baro). Aniceto was the son of Italian parents, Angelo Pasquale Messi Catena and Maria Latini Donatii, who were from Recanati, Province of Macerata, Marche. Angelo was the son of Pacifico Messi and Lucia Catena. Maria was the daughter of Raffaele Latini and Rosa Donati. The couple married c. 1890 and moved to Rosario, Argentina c. 1893. Lionel’s great-grandmother Santa was also the daughter of Italian parents, Secondo Baro and Maria Piovesana, who were from Treviso, Veneto.

Lionel’s paternal grandmother was Rosa María Pérez Mateu (the daughter of José Pérez Solé and Rosa Mateu i Gesé). Lionel’s grandmother Rosa was born in Santa Fe, Argentina. José was the son of Ramón Pérez Llobera, who was born in El Poal, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain, and of Maria Solé Font, who was born in Bellcaire, Girona, Catalonia. Lionel’s great-grandmother Rosa was born, c. 1910, in Blancafort de Tragó de Noguera, Catalonia.

Lionel’s maternal grandfather was named Antonio Cuccittini (the son of Arderigo “Federico” Coccettini). Federico was born in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Italian parents, Raniero Coccettini and Rosa Ricchezza, from San Severino, Marche.

Lionel’s maternal grandmother was named Celia Ramona Oliveira.

Sources: http://www.aldia.cr
http://archivo.globovision.com
http://442.perfil.com
http://lanoticia.hn

Genealogies of Lionel Messi – http://www.calciomercatonews.com
https://www.geni.com

Notes on some of Lionel’s ancestry – http://futbol.as.com
http://www.mundodeportivo.com