Murtaza Ahmadi wears a jersey made of plastic bag (Source: BBC)
People were so inspired by little Messi’s love for his idol that a campaign was launched for him to meet the Argentine superstar. What happened next? Ahmadi went to the Camp Nou and met Lionel Messi.
He also did the ceremonial kick-off before the match and then ran towards Messi and held his hand. That was the cutest moment on a football pitch, and you can not tell us otherwise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyJVzXVB0aY
Unfortunately, some years after his meeting with the world's best footballer, Murtaza and his family are forced to flee their home in the village of Ghazni owing to threats allegedly from Taliban. Murtaza and his family belong to the ethnic Hazara minority.
“Murtaza became famous around the world and we are not able to walk free and go anywhere. Murtaza and my other children were not able to go to school,” his mother Shafiqa Ahmadi said according to Reuters.
Murtaza Ahmadi with his mother. (Source: NDTV)
She added that Taliban attacked their village one night which forced them to flee the country.
Social Media reacts
'The family of a seven-year-old Afghan boy known as “Messi’s biggest fan” who captivated hearts around the world are now among the IDP’s in Kabul'
https://twitter.com/Barack_e1/status/1071443228564410368
Even if crisis, the little Messi did not forget to take his Messi-signed jerseys with him
https://twitter.com/BarcaTimes/status/1071112876700647425
The biggest Messi fan ever? YES
https://twitter.com/ASJBaloch/status/1071070575697776642
Indeed, it is a sad moment
https://twitter.com/jenanmoussa/status/1070734169934888963