Lionel Messi is often hailed as the greatest soccer player ever. And rightly so. With a record eight Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden Shoes, he has dominated the world stage for quite some time. This has led to fans giving him endearing nicknames. One of those nicknames is ‘La Pulga’.
But what’s the meaning of the term and why is Messi called ‘La Pulga’?
That’s what we’ll be uncovering in this article. We’ll also look at some other nicknames that the fans have given Messi.
So, let’s get started by first uncovering what La Pulga means.
What Does ‘La Pulga’ Mean?
‘La Pulga’ is the Spanish term for a flea, and literally translates to ‘The Flea’.
Fleas are tiny flightless insects that grow to around 3 millimeters (1⁄8 inch) in length.
But here’s the fascinating thing about fleas. Their hind legs are specialized for powerful jumps, allowing them to leap an astonishing 50 times their body length.
You’re probably starting to see the parallels between a nimble flea and Lionel Messi. Let’s explore the connection further and look at how Messi came to be known as ‘La Pulga’.
Why is Messi Known as La Pulga?
Lionel Messi has been known by his nickname ‘La Pulga’ since he was a kid. His elder brothers affectionately called him ‘La Pulgita’ (‘Little Flea’), which later turned into ‘La Pulga.’
The parallels between Messi and a flea are quite apparent. Messi’s stature is notably short, which gives him a lower center of gravity, making it easy for him to do quick directional changes and evading tackles.
Despite his short stature, Messi surprises everyone with his significant upper-body strength, quite like a flea does.
Did you know that Messi might have been even shorter if not for the treatment he received?
Messi’s short stature is attributed to a growth hormone disorder (GHD) which was treated by Barcelona when he first joined the team. The club saw huge potential in the kid and decided to personally oversee his treatment for the disorder.
“He destroyed us all… Even the team’s starting centre-backs were nervous. He was an alien.”
Ludovic Giuly, on a Barcelona training session back in 2004.
The Spanish media added some further flair to an already cool nickname when they dubbed Messi ‘La Pulga Atomica’ (‘the atomic flea’) back in 2012.
What Other Nicknames Does Messi Have?
‘La Pulga’ isn’t the only nickname attributed to Messi. He has several other nicknames which soccer fans know him by. Here are a few:
- GOAT (Greatest of all time)
- La Pulga Atomica
- Leo
- Messiah
- Messidona
- Little Magician
- Little Genius
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