The five-year-old Afghan boy, who shot into prominence on social media after wearing a homemade shirt with football star Lionel Messi’s number 10, has arrived in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province.
Murtaza Ahmedi, hailing from Jaghori district, came to Quetta a few days ago, according to media reports.“I really like Messi, I wish I can meet him,” BBC Urdu quoted him as saying.
He came to Quetta along with his family fearing he might be kidnapped after gaining popularity.
The Afghan Football Federation had promised to help him meet Messi, but the pledge has not been honoured so far.
Murtaza got earlier this yeara signed Argentina shirt and football from the Barcelona star, who also expressed his desire to arrange a meeting with the boy, whose plastic jersey has since gone viral on social media.
Both Murtaza and his father say they are in Quetta in search of a better livelihood.
The boy told the Associated Press of Pakistan: “I am a left-footed football exactly like Messi.”
The boy’s father is eager to see his son’s dream come true. “I want my child to get all the opportunities that Messi did. I want him to become a football star someday.”
