Who is Enigma? That’s what the footballing world has been asking this week after a mystery masked footballer appeared in Gerard Pique’s Kings League.
The former Barcelona defender has set up a new seven-a-side tournament over in Spain, and one player, in particular, has caught the eye.
Going by the name ‘Enigma’, a player for the XBuyer team has been playing in a Lucha Libre mask with long sleeves and gloves in order to conceal his identity.
As you may have imagined, speculation has been rampant about who this player is. Many speculated that it was a current La Liga player who was disobeying the rules of his contract, while others suggested names such as Isco – who has just left Sevilla, and Cristiano Ronaldo – who is prone to a publicity stunt.
However, the true answer to this mystery is a lot more boring than people may hope.
Indeed, it’s now been revealed by Spanish journalist Guillem Ballague who this player is, and it’s not somebody you’re likely to have heard of.
Speaking on the BBC Radio Five Live Football Daily Podcast, Ballague revealed that Enigma was none other than 27-year-old recently released Cadiz midfielder, Nano Mesa.
Who is Enigma?
Ballague revealed the identity of this mystery footballer
“The problem is that the name is going to be an enigma for the audience. He’s not under contract. He was under contract with Cadiz until the summer until June and he rescinded that contract. He is 27 years old, he has played the last time he played was with Real Zaragoza in the second division. We are talking on one of the biggest shows that Five Live do about this competition, the name is Nano Mesa, and you’re all saying, who?” Ballague said.
Who is Nano Mesa?
Well, we know Enigma’s name now, but we’re none the wiser about who Nano Mesa is.
Many will never have heard of this player, and for good reason, he’s not one of the biggest names in Spanish football.
Born in 1997, Alexander ‘Nano’ Mesa came through the youth ranks at Tenerife and made a name for himself quite quickly, netting 14 goals in 35 league appearances for his first club before earning a move worth in excess of €3m to Eibar.
Sadly, his time at Eibar didn’t go to plan. He would play just six league games during his four years on the books there, being loaned out to the likes of Levante, Sporting Gijon, Tenerife and Cadiz.
Ultimately, Mesa would join Cadiz permanently in 2020, but two further loan spells would follow before his 2022 release.
The 27-year-old is currently not signed to a professional club and is playing in the Kings League under the name Enigma.
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