Some refer to him as “The GOAT,” while others refer to him as “The Flea,” know the meaning of La Pulga and why is Lionel Messi called so
Most football legends have nicknames; in Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo is renowned as ‘El Bicho,’ while Ronaldo de Assis Moreira is even more generally known as ‘Ronaldinho.’
Similarly, Lionel Messi, widely recognized as among the greatest sportsmen of all time, has an intriguing nickname: ‘La Pulga.’
Why Is Lionel Messi Called La Pulga And Meaning Of The Nickname
So, what does his moniker imply, and why is it given to him?
What does Lionel Messi’s nickname ‘La Pulga’ mean?
One of Messi’s greatest recognized surnames is ‘La Pulga,’ which translates to ‘the flea’ in Spanish.
He’s had this moniker from when he was a child. It is reported that 2 of the oldest brother nicknamed him ‘La Pulgita’ (little flea), which was eventually shortened to ‘La Pulga.’
The Rosario native is not among the tallest players on the field, and his diminutive size earned him the nickname. Messi, in reality, had a hormonal problem, or GHD, in which Barcelona assisted pay for therapy.
Some in the Spanish press dubbed him ‘La Pulga Atomica’ (the radioactive flea) because he was usually carrying explosives.
Indeed, Messi’s significant upper-body strength helps him to physically equal his opponents in tackles, but his rapid feet allow him to succeed at dribbling. Furthermore, because of his height, he has a low gravitational pull, which aids him in maintaining his balance while dribbling or running with the ball.
What are Messi’s other nicknames?
Apart from being recognized as ‘La Pulga,’ Messi has other nicknames. Leo is an abbreviated variant of his entire first surname that is used informally by soccer professionals, players, and analysts alike.
Messi won the Ballon d’Or as the world’s finest soccer player for their successful preparation in 2021, placing him two points ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
In August 2021, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain and left FC Barcelona. Abandoning the only competitive home he would have ever known.
A contract breach in January 2021 revealed that Messi was earning far more at Barcelona than originally known; he was likely to collect up to $165 million per year in salary and bonuses.