Afghan boy replaces plastic Messi football shirt with signed version


A five year old Afghan boy, Murtaza Ahmadi whose photo went viral after he was pictured wearing an Argentine national soccer shirt made from a plastic bag, has received a real shirt from UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lionel Messi.

Ahmadi had written the name and number of his football hero Messi, who plays for Argentina and Barcelona, on the bag.

The UN Children's Fund presented Murtaza with two shirts signed by the worldwide star at the agency's office in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

He was also given a football which UNICEF said symbolizes a child's right to play.

SOURCE: Daniel Dickinson, United Nations.