“My dog’s name is Messi” - AC Milan star shares why he named his dog after Argentina legend
AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has recently explained why he named his dog after eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi. The 26-year-old Dutchman joined I Rossoneri from AZ Alkmaar in 2023 for a reported transfer price of €20 million.
The Argentine icon is widely considered one of the greatest players to have played the game. The La Masia graduate is the highest goalscorer in the history of European football with 704 goals and 303 assists in 853 games and currently plays for the MLS outfit Inter Miami. For Argentina, La Pulga has scored a whopping 112 goals and created 61 more in 191 games.
In a March 2024 interview published by Sempremilan, Tijjani Reijnders revealed that he had a Pomsky, a cross between a Pomeranian and a Husky. Recently, the AC Milan man revealed why he named his dog Messi. He said (via @AlbicelesteTalk on X):
"My dog's name is Messi, when I was young I always said if I got a dog I would name him Messi, because for me [he] is the best player in the world. Then we decided we would get a dog, and the first thing I said to my wife is if we got a dog we would name him Messi.”
La Pulga finished yet another successful season with Inter Miami despite a few big injuries. In 25 games for The Herons across competitions, the 37-year-old scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists. He also helped David Beckham's side win their maiden MLS Supporter's Shield.
Lionel Messi once revealed the whereabouts of his dog Hulk after joining Inter Miami
Last year, Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami as a free agent after two tumultuous years at French outfit Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The entire family was pictured joining the Argentine legend at Fort Lauderdale as he adapted to life in the United States. However, their beloved Bordeaux Mastiff, Hulk, was missing from the picture.
In 2016, the Argentine superstar introduced Hulk to his fans on Instagram by describing him as 'a new member of my family.' However, during a 2023 appearance on OLGA, he revealed that he had left his four-legged companion in Castelldefels, Barcelona, before moving to Florida.
OLGA's Granados relayed La Pulga's message, saying (via GOAL):
"I asked him where that bull was and he told me, ‘He's in Barcelona, Hulk is there. He is a little old. So, we had to leave him in the house we have there in Barcelona.’"
The 2022 World Cup winner also implied that Hulk was on the verge of being put down because of his age. The family had easier access to Hulk when the star player was with PSG because of Catalunya's proximity to Paris.