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Research shows that Messi is of Brazilian descent
A new study has revealed a surprise about Argentina star Lionel Messi’s family origins, after an Italian researcher discovered that one of his grandfathers was born in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo before the family later moved to Argentina, a journey that also saw the family’s surname change.
According to the network.JaloboBrazilian-Italian researcher Fiorenzo Santini, who specializes in genealogy, spent several years compiling the Argentina captain’s family tree after his curiosity sparked the nickname “Messi” during the player’s early days at Barcelona.
Starting in Italy…then a stop in Brazil
The research showed that Messi’s paternal great-grandfather, Angelo Messi, left with his wife from the Italian city of Recanati to the city of Rosario, Argentina in 1893.
On his mother’s side, the story goes to his great-grandfather, Ranieri Cochetini, who was born in the Italian region of San Severino Marche before immigrating to Brazil with his wife, Rosa Recetta, on the ship Washington, where they arrived at the port of Santos on September 20, 189.
Name change in Brazil
According to historical documents, the family’s visit to Brazil witnessed a first and last name change due to difficulties in writing foreign names at the time, as Ranieri’s name was changed to “Ramiiro Conchitini”, changes common among immigrants at the time.
The family settled in the state of São Paulo, where the great-grandfather worked on a farm in the Rencao region, before moving to Ribeirao Preto, where the family’s two sons, including Arderigo, were born in 1904.
From Ribeirao Preto to Rosario
About a year after Arderigo’s birth, the family left Brazil for Argentina, where they settled in the city of Rosario.
From there, a new phase of the family began as Antonio Cochetini, Messi’s grandfather, was later born, then his mother, Celia Maria Cochetini, until Lionel Andres Messi Cochetini was born on June 24, 1987.
The secret of the nickname “Cochetin”.
Santini explained that his research continued between 2019 and 2022, after he noticed that there was no record of the surname “Cochetini” in Italy, before discovering through documents and relatives of Messi’s mother that the first and last name had been changed during the family’s stay in Brazil.
He added that these results contributed to Messi being awarded the title of “honorary citizen” of the Italian city of San Severino Marche in 2022 in recognition of his family roots.
What remains of the family in Brazil?
The study found that there are no records showing that Messi’s relatives remained in Ribeirao Preto after the family moved to Argentina in 1905.
Despite this, there is still a symbolic link that binds the Argentine star to the city, represented by a street called “Martinico Prado”, named after the owner of the farm that hosted Messi’s family ancestors during their stay in the state of São Paulo before their eventual migration to Argentina.
