The face behind the famous Kinder Chocolate packaging has finally revealed his true identity after years of mystery.
For nearly two decades, Matteo Farneti’s image was used without permission, with others falsely claiming it as their own. Now, at 31, Farneti is speaking out about the confusion and frustration he’s faced.
From Kinder Kid to Grown-Up – You Won’t Believe What He Looks Like Now
The face on Kinder chocolate wrappers from 2004 to 2019 is Matteo Farneti, a 31-year-old from Bologna. He confirmed this in an interview with Corriere della Sera, ending years of speculation. Ferrero, the company behind Kinder, also verified his identity.
Pictured: Matteo Farneti now.
Look at what the boy from Kinder Chocolate Packet looks like now
Social media have been left shocked as they have discovered what the boy from the Kinder chocolate bars looks like now.
Matteo Farneti has openly shared on Instagram that he was on the packaging.
The 31-year-old still appears to have similar features to his younger self upon looking at him closely.
His face, with a bright white smile, could be seen on the boxes of chocolates from 2004 to 2019.
People on social media have been left stunned by his appearance now, and some have even questioned whether it is true.
For years, Matteo struggled as he dealt with other people who would claim to be the famous boy.
After growing tired of people pretending it was them, he decided to speak out and reveal his identity.
Ferrero, who owns the Kinder brand, has also confirmed that Matteo was the face of the chocolate for 15 years.
In an official letter, they wrote: “The face of the child, which was depicted on the packaging of Kinder-Chocolate from 2004 to 2019, is that of Matteo Farneti.”
The company has also rejected the previous assumption that an English model named Josh Bateson, was the children’s chocolate boy.
Matteo, from Bologna, Italy, has good memories from his time being a children’s model.
Even today, he still works as a model and also studies sports management.
He has over 27,000 followers online, and he really caught their attention when revealing who he is, as reported by What’s The Jam.
One person wrote: “Such a handsome young man!”
Another user commented: “You are a great feeling of childhood! And you look so good now, still sweet.”
“Iconic,” added a third user.
Someone else said: “You’ve changed a lot.”
“Could you be a little less handsome,” remarked another user.
ENDS
Who Did People Think He Was?
For years, many thought the face belonged to Alessandro Egger, a contestant from La Talpa. Farneti set the record straight, saying, “I’m sure the photo is mine, not his.” Other theories linked the face to English influencer Josh Bateson, but Farneti has cleared that up too.
The Struggles of Identity Theft
Farneti’s decision to speak out is not just about claiming his image, but also stopping its misuse. He revealed that in his small town, people often accused him of lying about being the Kinder Kid. “It’s uncomfortable to see my childhood image used by others,” he shared.
Why Speak Out Now?
Frustrated with constantly proving his identity, Farneti decided to set the record straight. His experience highlights the ease with which personal identities are stolen in the digital age.
