Blogs

Lionel Messi finally meets Lionel Richie whom he was named after

Apr 21, 2025 | Entertainment, Sports

April 21, 2025

In a super wholesome meet-up at Chase Stadium, Lionel Richie finally met the Lionel Messi—and it turns out the connection runs deeper than just a shared name. Messi’s mom, Celia, was a big fan of Richie back in his Commodores days and revealed in a 2010 interview that his music actually inspired her son’s name. She originally liked “Leonel,” but with a little twist from Messi’s dad, “Lio” was born.

After Inter Miami’s big win over LAFC in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the two legends crossed paths backstage. Richie, now 74, posted the moment online with the caption, “When Lionel meets Lionel! Mom named him after me… And here we are,” adding a laughing emoji. He even joked, “I can’t play soccer, and he can’t sing—so let’s be best friends!”

It was a short but meaningful moment for both stars, finally bringing full circle a fun and heartfelt backstory.

Did you like this article?

Did you like this article?

0 Comments

Latest Posts

Canada’s Condo Crisis: Prices Plunge Over 50% in Toronto Suburbs

Canada’s condo market is in sharp decline — and suburban areas are bearing the brunt. A new report from Moody’s Analytics reveals that condo prices in Toronto’s surrounding communities, like Halton Hills, have plunged by over 50%from their peak. Nearby areas such as...

Latin Music Gets Its Spotlight at the 2026 JUNO Awards

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has announced a significant update for the 2026 JUNO Awards: the creation of a new category, Latin Music Recording of the Year. This exciting addition reflects Canada’s growing Latin music scene and CARAS’s...

Bachata Goes Global: How a Dominican Sound Took Over the World

What began as the soundtrack of heartbreak in the shantytowns and brothels of 1960s Dominican Republic has become a global musical force. Bachata — once stigmatized for its associations with poverty, Blackness, and working-class life — is now celebrated worldwide,...

Events

Related articles