Lionel Messi can finally trademark surname after NINE-YEAR legal battle with Spanish cycling brand Massi

LIONEL MESSI can finally trademark his surname after a NINE-YEAR legal battle with Spanish cycling brand Massi.

Argentine great Messi first tried to trademark his surname as a sportswear, footwear and equipment brand in 2011.

But the owners of Massi disputed this, as they argued the Barcelona legend’s brand would lead to customer confusion.

Now the European Court of Justice dismissed an appeal made by the EU’s intellectual property office, EUIPO, and Massi on Thursday.

The EU high court said Messi’s reputation is a relevant factor in distinguishing between the cycling company and himself.

Massi was initially successful in challenging the application after a complaint was upheld in 2013 – but they lost in a ruling at the EU’s General Court two years ago.

At the time, the court concluded that confusion between the two was unlikely.

They said: “Mr Messi is, in fact, a well-known public figure who can be seen on television and who is regularly discussed on television or on the radio”

Messi’s court battle victory comes after he refused to drag Barca through the same ordeal.

The forward – who Forbes rate as the highest-paid player in the world – wanted to leave the club after 16 seasons.

Messi believed he had a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave at the end of the season.

But the Spanish giants insisted, despite the season playing out until August, that the stipulation had expired and not extended.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner was not willing to take the club to court to contest it, and instead confirmed he will remain at Barcelona this season.

He has a year left on his contact, meaning he can walk out for nothing next summer.