Although Lionel Messi cemented his legacy as the greatest player in Argentina's history, a recent three-year historical investigation suggests his international career could have unfolded quite differently. Research led by Italian investigator Fiorenzo Santini has uncovered that the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner held maternal ancestry that could have qualified him to represent Argentina's fierce rivals, Brazil.
According to findings shared by Globo, one of the 39-year-old's maternal great-grandparents was born in the interior of São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto at the turn of the 20th century. The family moved to Argentina around 1905, establishing the roots that eventually connected the forward to the three-time world champions. The study also noted a change in the family's records upon their arrival in Rosario, where the maternal surname Coccettini was officially registered as Cuccittini, the name Messi uses today.
Messi’s international career with the Albiceleste has been legendary, featuring 125 goals in 207 appearances. His trophy cabinet includes one FIFA World Cup, two Copa America titles, a Copa Finalissima, and an Olympic gold medal. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he continued his dominance with eight goals and four assists across eight matches.
Beyond Argentina and Brazil, Messi was also eligible to represent both Spain and Italy. After joining Barcelona's La Masia academy at age 13, he met the criteria for the Spanish national team. Former Spain manager Vicente del Bosque confirmed that the Royal Spanish Football Federation made significant efforts to recruit the young talent, but Messi declined. As Bosque explained, the federation tried everything to get him to play for Spain, but Lionel refused because of his deep love for his home country. Furthermore, like many Argentines, Messi possesses Italian heritage due to European migration patterns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, meaning he could have also traced his lineage to play for the Italian national team.
