Haaland, Messi among top baby name inspirations as WC fever leaves a lasting mark
The World Cup has produced unforgettable moments on the pitch, but its influence is now being seen in an unexpected place – newborn baby names.
Across Latin America, parents have begun naming their children after football stars who captured their imagination during the tournament.
In Peru, a new wave of babies named Haaland has emerged, while in Argentina, the name Lionel has climbed in popularity as fans celebrate captain Lionel Messi’s historic campaign.
Ivan Torres, a spokesperson for Peru’s civil registry RENIEC, told Panamericana TV that hundreds of newborns in the country have been named after rising stars such as Norway’s Erling Haaland. Names linked to global icons including Messi, Brazil’s Neymar and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo have also remained popular, with around 30,000 registrations each.
“Haaland is now Peruvian too,” Torres said, adding that one child was even named “Mundial,” the Spanish word commonly used for the World Cup.
The trend has been especially notable among fans whose national teams were eliminated or did not qualify for the tournament.
Many supporters in Latin America turned toward Norway, attracted by the team’s energetic style and Haaland’s powerful performances, which helped the country reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
In Mexico, a birth certificate shared widely on social media showed a baby girl reportedly named Quiñona Ysisidra Morita Haaland Guevara – a combination inspired by Mexican players Julián Quiñones and Gilberto Mora, along with Norwegian striker Haaland. The name Ysisidra was also linked to the popular Mexican fan phrase “Y si sí?” meaning “What if?”
Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the certificate, but the story reflected the emotional connection many fans developed with football during the tournament.
In Argentina, names connected to the national team also saw a rise. In the province of Salta, Enzo, Emiliano and Lionel were among the most popular boys’ names shortly before the final, a trend local officials described as part of the “World Cup phenomenon.”
The names were associated with midfielder Enzo Fernandez, goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez and Messi.
Fabiola Molina, host of the Mexico City-based parenting podcast “Sin manual para padres,” said the practice has a long history in Latin America.
She compared the current wave of football-inspired names with earlier trends, such as parents naming children Kevin and Brian during the popularity of the Backstreet Boys.
However, she warned that a famous name does not determine a child’s future.
“Just because your name is Messi or Lionel, it doesn’t mean you’ll grow up to be a good soccer player,” she said, noting that identity and destiny are not decided by a name alone.
Meanwhile, another young star has created his own World Cup story. Spain forward Lamine Yamal has inspired pride in Rocafonda, the multicultural neighborhood near Barcelona where he developed his football skills.
Residents gathered around the local pitch as Spain prepared to face Messi’s Argentina in the final, celebrating the journey of a player who represents the community’s diversity.
Yamal, born in Spain to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, has frequently honored his roots by showing the “304” hand gesture after scoring goals – a tribute to Rocafonda’s postal code.
His long-standing admiration for Messi added another emotional layer to the final, especially after a childhood photograph of Messi holding baby Yamal went viral.
Off the field, FIFA has also highlighted another major issue surrounding modern football: online abuse.
The governing body said it removed more than seven million potentially abusive posts and comments during the 2026 World Cup, using a combination of artificial intelligence and human monitoring.
The system tracked harmful content in more than 50 languages and identified racism, threats and discriminatory messages targeting players, coaches, officials and teams.
FIFA said more than 200,000 insulting or intimidating messages were reported during the tournament, with over 1,000 serious cases referred to authorities for further investigation.
As the World Cup reaches its conclusion, its impact stretches far beyond the scoreboard – from the names parents choose for their children, to the pride of communities behind young stars, and the ongoing effort to make football a safer global stage.
