A FIVE-year-old Afghan boy who made a splash on the internet by wearing a homemade Lionel Messi jersey from a plastic bag might get the chance to meet the Barcelona great.
The Afghan Football Federation said it is planning to set up a meeting between Messi and Murtaza Ahmadi, who was pictured wearing the plastic Argentina jersey with Messi's name and number on the back.
Federation officials hope Messi can come to Afghanistan, but otherwise they will arrange to send him to Spain or arrange a meeting in a third country.
Murtaza was in Kabul yesterday wearing some Barcelona gear under his homemade shirt while running through football drills at the national stadium.
"The Spanish embassy is ready to issue visas for them," said Keramuddin Karim, the president of the Afghanistan Football Federation. "We are trying to make contact directly with Barcelona to arrange the meeting, where, when and which date."
Pictures of Murtaza playing soccer near his home in eastern Ghazni province showed him wearing the plastic bag - in blue and white stripes like the Argentina national team shirt - with Messi and 10 written in black marker.
Arif Ahmadi, Murtaza's father, said he and his family only have solar power and the boy has seen Messi on TV.
"He (Murtaza) asked me many times to buy a Messi shirt," Mr Ahmadi said. "I couldn't provide for him. Later, his brother made him this plastic shirt and posted his photo on Facebook."
