Argentines: The Past Masters of Nicknames

Why are nicknames so popular in Argentina? It’s a fascinating question.

This is the cover art for a book about Messi. “The Flea” is his nickname (“la pulga” in Spanish).

Argentines might be the best and most prolific users of nicknames in the entire universe. One only has to look at Argentine football players for examples. I give you:

Lionel Messi, aka ‘La Pulga’ (the flea) due to his small size and his playing style (popping…