Doha: In a great moment, Afghan boy who became an internet sensation after photographs of him wearing an improvised Lionel Messi football jersey went viral, finally got to meet his idol on Tuesday.
Murtaza Ahmadi met the Barcelona striker in Doha, where the Spanish league champions are due to play a friendly match against Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli later.
The news was confirmed by Qatar`s 2022 World Cup organisers, who made the fan meet the legendary footballer.
"The image the world wanted to see," tweeted Qatar`s 2022 World Cup organisers, who brought the pair together.
"The six year old boy who dreamed of meeting his hero, #Messi, finally comes true."
Six-year-old Murtaza, who is also due to walk out onto the pitch with the Argentinian at Doha`s Al-Gharrafa stadium, was delighted after meeting Messi.
A delighted Murtaza said: "I`m very happy to have met my hero. It is a dream for me," according to a statement released by Qatar`s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the committee overseeing organisation of the 2022 tournament.
Murtaza's pictures went viral all across the globe after he was pictured wearing his hero`s shirt, made out of a plastic bag, with the name Messi and the famous number 10 written on it with marker pen.
The shirt was made by his teenage brother Homayoun after his neighbour threw away grocery bags.
