Why does Argentine law prohibit naming children "Messi"?

In a country where football star Lionel Messi is treated as a national hero, with his murals adorning buildings, songs written in his name, and his image tattooed on fans’ bodies, there remains one form of tribute that Argentine law still opposes: naming children “Messi.” Despite the overwhelming popularity of the Argentina national team captain, Argentine law does not permit using his famous surname as a first name for newborns, based on legislation dating back to 1969 that prohibits using family names as personal names to avoid confusion in civil records. Despite this ban, an Argentine couple succeeded in 2014 in obtaining an official exemption after an administrative battle, making their son “Messi David Varela” the first child officially registered with “Messi” as a first name. His father, Hector Varela, said at the time that his choice was not motivated by mere imitation, explaining: “There were already many children named Lionel or Leo, so we wanted to send a different message.” More than a decade after that precedent, the number of people named “Messi” in Argentina remains extremely limited, according to Al Jazeera. According to the National Registry of Persons as of June 2025, only 11 citizens or legal residents bear the name “Messi,” and all are under 19 years old. This figure appears small compared to other countries: approximately 205 people carry the name in the United States, around 265 in France, and 363 in Brazil, while Peru tops the list with more than 3,400 people named “Messi.”