THE world's leading footballers might be purring at the moment with the biggest tournament on the planet in full swing, but some of their furry namesakes are having a more challenging time.

As the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Harry Kane continue to light up the 2018 World Cup in Russia, animal lovers across the country have found naming their pets after football superstars doesn't always guarantee good health.

Ronaldo the cat from Middlesbrough would have trouble in emulating the achievements of the Ballon d'Or winner, as the black and white moggy is allergic to grass.

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) have also reported a number of footballer-named animals who have needed medical treatment, including Kane – a Staffie from Nottingham, Messi – a terrier cross,from Sheffield, and Neymar – a cat from Bow, near Carlisle.

Annette Loughlin, Ronaldo's owner, said: "I have had him since he was born which was about 10 years ago.

"My grandson was about six or seven. We agreed the cat would stay with me but he would be allowed to give it a name.

"When he said he wanted to call it Ronaldo, I was like 'oh no, surely not.'

"He is just like the footballer – a right little bugger and a right little terror – he does my head in."

The 63-year-old admitted Ronaldo was proving to be as much of a problem in her home as the Real Madrid and Portugal star is to opposition teams on the pitch.

"He picks up the sponge that I use to wash the dishes in the kitchen and he tries to wake me up in the night with it.

"He jumps on me to wake me up, and I have to follow him every time he wants something – I have to take the food to him, he won't come to the food."

She also has the problem of him being allergic to grass, but admits it does not stop him going out and about.

"He came out in a bad rash all over his body and he was scratching.

"I knew it wasn't fleas because he had just been checked. He had been laid on the grass and the vet said there you are.

"He won't take tablets no matter what I do – I can't mix it into a powder or with his food or water, so he has to have injections in the back of his neck.

"He hides a lot of the time and he goes outside to torment the dogs – he is much bigger and heavier than some of them."