Afghan Boy Who Made A Lionel Messi Jersey From A Plastic Bag Finally Meets His Hero

And he won’t leave the soccer star's side.
Murtaza Ahmadi, who showed off his plastic-bag shirt nearly a year ago, met Lionel Messi on Dec. 13.
Murtaza Ahmadi, who showed off his plastic-bag shirt nearly a year ago, met Lionel Messi on Dec. 13.
STR, Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

Talk about #goals.

The little boy from rural Afghanistan who became an internet sensation after he was photographed in a Lionel Messi soccer jersey made from a plastic bag has finally met his hero.

Lionel Messi (second from left) and the FC Barcelona team pose for photos with Murtaza Ahmadi before a match.
Lionel Messi (second from left) and the FC Barcelona team pose for photos with Murtaza Ahmadi before a match.
Ibraheem Al Omari/Reuters

On Tuesday, Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organizing committee tweeted photos and video of 6-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi meeting the Argentine superstar before a game in Doha.

After the initial meeting, Murtaza followed Messi onto the field, where the forward for FC Barcelona was getting set to play a friendly game against Al-Ahli Dubai.

The tiny fan had a really hard time leaving his hero’s side:

Footy-GoalsCom

Murtaza became an online hit in early 2016 not long after his father declined to buy him his own blue-and-white striped jersey, just like the one that Messi wears on Argentina’s national team.

“I told him that we were living in a poor village far from the city and it was impossible for me to get him the shirt,” Arif Ahmadi said to CNN.

But his teenage brother Hamayon stepped up. He helped Murtaza create a homemade version using a blue-striped plastic bag. On it, they wrote “Messi” and his number, 10.

Murtaza shows off his homemade jersey.
Murtaza shows off his homemade jersey.
STR/AFP/Getty Images

Hamayon posted pictures of Murtaza wearing the jersey on Facebook, and the pictures soon went viral.

In February, Murtaza received a signed jersey from Messi with a little help from UNICEF.

After receiving the jersey, Murtaza told the BBC, “I love Messi and my shirt says Messi loves me.”

To check out more adorable highlights from Murtaza’s big day, watch the video below:

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot