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BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 24: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona with his son Thiago walk out the pitch prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Camp Nou on September 24, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 24: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona with his son Thiago walk out the pitch prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Camp Nou on September 24, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)David Ramos/Getty Images

Lionel Messi's Hometown Rosario Bans Residents from Naming Their Babies 'Messi'

Will Tidey
Sep 10, 2014
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 24: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona with his son Thiago walk out the pitch prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Camp Nou on September 24, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramo
David Ramos/Getty Images

Lionel Messi's hometown of Rosario, Argentina, has banned people from naming their children "Messi."

And no, we're not kidding.

As per Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sports Illustrated), local officials have passed a law barring residents from using the surname of the world's best footballer as the first name of their newborn sons and daughters.

A family who did just that for a newborn son prompted the law.

According to the SI article, Rosario residents are still permitted to name their children Maradona. Ronaldo is presumably still available, too.

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