By Trust Ittai and Mishael Emmanuel

The excitement of the FIFA World Cup has extended beyond the football pitch, with parents across Latin America naming their newborns after some of the tournament's biggest stars.

In Peru, Norway striker Erling Haaland has emerged as one of the biggest inspirations for new parents, despite Peru failing to qualify for the World Cup.

According to Peru's civil registry (RENIEC), hundreds of babies have been named after the prolific forward, while football icons Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo each have around 30,000 name registrations.

RENIEC spokesperson Ivan Torres summed up the craze by saying: "Haaland is now Peruvian too." He added that one newborn was even named "Mundial," the Spanish word commonly used for the World Cup.

Norway's impressive run to the quarter-finals and the popularity of Haaland have earned the Scandinavian nation a large following across Latin America, particularly among fans whose national teams were either absent from the tournament or had already been eliminated.

The naming trend has also spread to Mexico, where a birth certificate that went viral on social media showed a baby girl named Quiñona Ysisidra Morita Haaland Guevara, a tribute to Mexican stars Julián Quiñones and Gilberto Mora, as well as Haaland.

The name Ysisidra is a playful adaptation of the Mexican supporters' slogan "Y si sí?" ("What if?"), which gained popularity during the team's World Cup campaign. Mexican authorities, however, have not confirmed the authenticity of the certificate.

In Argentina, where the national team is preparing for Sunday's World Cup final, the names Enzo, Emiliano and Lionel have become the most popular choices for baby boys in the northeastern province of Salta.

Local authorities credited the surge to the ongoing "World Cup phenomenon," inspired by midfielder Enzo Fernandez, goalkeeper Emiliano "Dibu" Martinez and captain Lionel Messi.

Parenting expert Fabiola Molina, host of the Mexico City-based podcast Sin manual para padres, told Reuters that naming children after football stars has a long tradition in Latin America, dating back to Diego Maradona's legendary performances at the 1986 World Cup.

She recalled that the popularity of the Backstreet Boys also inspired many parents to name their sons Kevin and Brian, making such names common across countries including Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

"It's funny, but it could also be prejudicial to children when they grow up," Molina said. "Just because your name is Messi or Lionel, it doesn't mean you'll grow up to be a good soccer player; destiny won't carve that out for you."

The latest naming trend highlights the remarkable influence football continues to have on families across Latin America, with World Cup heroes leaving a legacy that now stretches from the stadium to birth certificates.