Profile Text
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 [at least one half Italian and one quarter Catalan, as well as Spanish, Portuguese, possibly other]
Lionel Messi, or Leo Messi, is an Argentinian professional footballer. A forward, he plays for, and captains, Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team. He was previously with Barcelona C, Barcelona B, Barcelona, which he also captained; and Paris Saint-Germain. He is considered one of the best players of the sport. 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, with 474. He has won eight Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. He has also been an endorser for sportswear company Adidas.
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 is Catholic.
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. Angelo and Maria 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. 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 in Blancafort de Tragó de Noguera, Catalonia.
Lionel’s maternal grandfather was Antonio Cuccittini (the son of Arderigo “Federico” Coccettini/Cuccittini and María Caporissi). Antonio was born in Bigand, Caseros, Santa Fe, to parents from Brazil. Federico was born in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, to Italian parents, Raniero Coccettini Ricchezza and Rosa Ricchezza, who were from San Severino Marche, Macerata, Marche. Lionel’s great-grandmother María was also the daughter of Italian parents, Erasmo Caporicci and Antonia Maria Caporicci.
Lionel’s maternal grandmother was Celia Ramona Olivera Moyano (the daughter of Pedro Manuel Olivera Villanueva and Emilia Moyano). Celia was born in Santa Fe. Pedro was born in Santa Fe, the son of Nazario Olivera, whose maternal grandfather was from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; and of Florentina Villanueva. Lionel’s great-grandmother Emilia was born in Coronda, San Jerónimo, Santa Fe, the daughter of Martina Moyano.
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