Vozinha Mamani Mamani. That is how a baby who cannot even walk yet, but already bears the name of the goalkeeper who won over half the world in Cape Verde, was registered in Bolivia’s civil registry. His parents did not hesitate: if the World Cup gave them that joy, their son would carry it forever.
He is not the only one. In El Carmen de Bolívar, Colombia, a boy was registered as Erling Haaland Estrada Arrieta, a direct tribute to the Norwegian goal scorer. And in Chile, soccer fever is already official statistics: 4.085 people are named Lionel, 45 bear the name Messi, and even two have Mbappé registered as a surname.
The director of Chile’s Civil Registry, Omar Morales Márquez, sums it up simply: parents can choose freely, as long as the name is not extravagant or harmful to the child. So as long as there are goals that stir emotions, there will continue to be babies who grow up bearing the names of their idols 🥹⚽
