The report describes a three-year historical study led by Italian historian Fiorenzo Santini. It says one of Messi’s maternal great-grandfathers was born in Ribeirão Preto, potentially creating a route to Brazilian nationality if the family documents and legal requirements supported the claim.
That possibility remains a historical and legal hypothesis, not evidence that Messi ever considered playing for Brazil. His family’s move to Argentina shaped the football identity that eventually became central to his career.
The report also points to changes in the family surname, from Coccettini to Cuccittini, adding another layer to the ancestry debate. Such details would require independent verification before the claim could be treated as established.
Italy has also been linked with Messi through his family background, reflecting the deep Italian influence on Argentine society. Spain’s case was more directly connected to his football development after he moved there as a teenager.
Del Bosque said, “A Federação fez todo o esforço para que Messi jogasse pela Espanha.” He also stated: “Lionel recusou porque ama seu país.”
That account presents Spain’s interest as genuine, but Messi’s international loyalty ultimately remained with Argentina.
Messi’s story with Argentina became one of the defining narratives of modern football. He endured intense scrutiny before leading the national team to Copa América glory and then the 2022 World Cup.
The alternative nationalities are fascinating because they underline how different his legacy might have been. In Brazilian yellow, Spanish red or Italian blue, Messi would still have been extraordinary-but the emotional meaning of his career would have changed completely.
The next chapter will depend on whether the ancestry claims receive wider documentary scrutiny. Until then, Brazil, Italy and Spain remain intriguing possibilities in a career that belonged unmistakably to Argentina.