A genealogical study has uncovered a remarkable secret buried in Lionel Messi's family history: his maternal ancestors spent five years in Brazil before emigrating to Argentina. Italian researcher Fiorenzo Santini spent three years tracing the Argentina captain's family tree, revealing a fascinating journey of immigration, name changes, and cultural crossroads that shaped one of football's greatest players.
The discovery centers on Ranieri Cocchietini, Messi's great-grandfather on his mother's side. Born in San Severino Marche in the Marche region of Italy, Ranieri and his wife Rosa Ricchezza boarded the ship "Washington" in 1899, arriving at the Brazilian port of Santos on 20 September. They settled in the state of São Paulo, working on farms in the Rincón region and later Ribeirão Preto. The family's stay in Brazil proved transformative—not just personally, but linguistically. Immigration officials and local bureaucrats altered their surname from Cocchietini to "Ramiero Concchietini," a common occurrence when foreign names proved difficult to document during that era.
From Brazil to Argentina: A Family's Second Migration
Around 1905, approximately five years after arriving in Brazil, the Cocchietini family relocated once more, this time to Argentina. They settled near Rosario, where Messi's grandfather Antonio was born, followed by his mother Celia María Cocchietini. On his father's side, great-grandfather Angelo Messi had already emigrated directly from Recanati, Italy, to Rosario in 1893. When Lionel Andrés Messi Cocchietini was born on 24 June 1987, he carried within his lineage the imprint of Italian migration, Brazilian soil, and Argentine tradition.
Santini's research, conducted between 2019 and 2022, solved a genealogical puzzle: there was no historical record of the surname "Cocchietini" in Italy. By cross-referencing documents and interviews with Messi's maternal relatives, the researcher confirmed the name transformation occurred specifically during the family's Brazilian chapter. This breakthrough proved significant enough that it helped earn Messi the title of honorary citizen of San Severino Marche in 2022, recognising his ancestral connections to the Italian region.
- Ranieri Cocchietini arrived in Brazil on 20 September 1899
- Family worked on farms in São Paulo state, including the Rincón region
- Emigrated to Argentina around 1905, settling near Rosario
- Name changed from Cocchietini to Concchietini due to Brazilian immigration practices
- Messi honoured as honorary citizen of San Severino Marche in 2022
A symbolic thread still connects the Argentina legend to his family's Brazilian past. The street "Martinico Prado" in Ribeirão Preto bears the name of the farm owner who sheltered Messi's ancestors during their years in São Paulo, preserving a quiet reminder of the immigrant journey that ultimately shaped one of football's most decorated champions.
