It is the English version of the Male Name in Spanish Leonel (and in English it is pronounced "Laionell"). It means little lion. The name is of Greek origin, with that meaning and derived from Leonellus. In the case of Lionel Messi, his name is due to the great admiration of his parents for Lionel Richie, the famous singer. Curiously, Lionel Messi likes more that they use as a contraction of his name "Leo" and not "Lio" (for its meaning in Spanish).
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