AC Milan Midfielder Explains Why He Named His Dog After Lionel Messi
AC Milan’s 26-year-old midfielder, Tijjani Reijnders, recently shared the story behind naming his dog after Argentine football legend Lionel Messi. Reijnders, who joined the Italian club from AZ Alkmaar in 2023 for a reported €20 million, expressed his admiration for Messi, one of the greatest players in football history.
The Argentine superstar, widely regarded as the best in the world, holds numerous records, including being the all-time top scorer in European football with 704 goals and 303 assists in 853 matches. He currently plays for MLS side Inter Miami and has scored 112 goals for Argentina, along with a joint-record 58 assists in 191 appearances.
In a March 2024 interview with Sempremilan, Reijnders revealed that he owns a Pomsky, a hybrid breed of Pomeranian and Husky. When asked about his dog’s name, he explained, “I always said when I was younger that if I got a dog, I would name him Messi, because for me, he’s the best player in the world. So, when we decided to get a dog, I told my wife straight away that we should name him Messi.”
