Lionel Messi meets 'plastic shirt' boy Murtaza Ahmadi

A young Afghan boy who became an online sensation after wearing a homemade shirt of Lionel Messi’s famous number 10 has met the football star.

In January this year, a photograph of the six-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi wearing the shirt made from a striped blue plastic bag went viral.

Murtaza has the real thing now! #LeoMessi helped make his dream come true & gave him signed jerseys & a football. pic.twitter.com/ls6nUOdaBL

— UNICEF Afghanistan (@UNICEFAfg) February 25, 2016

The image, which got so much attention ended with the boy receiving a signed shirt from Messi.

Six year old Afghan boy Murtaza finally meets #Messi. pic.twitter.com/ujA2wa81UB

— Road to 2022 (@roadto2022) December 13, 2016

The image the world wanted to see. The six year old boy who dreamed of meeting his hero, #Messi, finally comes true. #FCBinDoha pic.twitter.com/58FWn17b9A

— Road to 2022 (@roadto2022) December 13, 2016

11 months on, Messi and Murtaza have met for the first time during a trip to Doha, Qatar to play a friendly against Al Ahli on Tuesday.

Barcelona went on to beat Al-Ahli Saudi 5 -3 in a match at Doha’s Al Gharaffa Stadium. Before the match, Messi walked on to the pitch with Murtaza.

Murtaza, who comes from the Jaghori District, in the eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, was forced to flee the country to Pakistan in May.

أخيراً مرتضى يلتقي بميسي! اللجنة العليا ساعدت الطفل الأفغاني على تحقيق حلمه في #قطر. #الاهلي_برشلونة pic.twitter.com/LFHau5wWMj

— Road to 2022 (@roadto2022) December 13, 2016