Messi’s home region sees 700 percent jump in babies named after him

Lionel Messi’s home province in Argentina has seen a massive rise of babies named after him.

Since December there has been a 700 percent increase in newborns named either Lionel or Lionela in the Santa Fe region where Messi grew up.

The Civil Registry of Santa Fe said until September on average there were six newborns a month named Lionel or Lionela.

That jumped to 32 per month on the eve of the World Cup in Qatar and in December, the final which took place on December 19, there were 49 children named after the striker.

According to Messi’s mother, Celia, he was named Lionel after American singer Lionel Richie because at the time she was pregnant, the single ‘Say You, Say Me’ was a hit around the world.

[Source: NZ Herald]