Argentine city Rosario ban parents from naming future children 'Messi'

A city in Argentina has banned 'Messi' from being used as a first name for newborn babies.

One father in Rosario was eventually granted permission to name his son after Argentina international and Barcelona star Lionel Messi, but a civil servant in the city wants to put a stop to any future incidents.

According to Marca, director of the Civil Register of the Santa Fe province Gonzalo Carrillo has warned parents against naming newborns after the former Ballon d'Or winner because Messi is strictly a surname.

Carrillo has claimed that naming a child 'Messi' in the footballer's home city will cause too much confusion.