Turkish Cypriot parents names baby born after Argentinian footballer Mauro Icardi

The trend of naming children after football players has also spread to the TRNC as a Galatasaray fan named his newborn child 'Icardi'.

The baby born of a Turkish Cypriot parents on Monday has been named after Argentinian footballer Mauro Icardi.

The baby’s unusual name was announced in a Facebook post by gynaecologist Dr Kemal Tavukcu, who shared a picture of himself holding the baby after he had been born at the Etik hospital in Lefkosia, northern Cyprus.

Icardi the footballer currently plays as a centre forward for Turkish side Galatasaray, having initially signed on loan for the club during the summer of 2022, before making his move to the club permanent the following year.

His most recent turnout in Galatasaray colours was an unusual affair on Sunday night, in which he scored the only goal of a minute-long Turkish Super Cup final against arch rivals Fenerbahce’s under 19 side, before the opposition walked off the pitch.

Prior to his signing for Galatasaray, he turned out for French outfit Paris Saint-Germain and Italian side Inter Milan.

Icardi the baby is the first to be born in the north to have such a name.