The Afghan Football Federation has confirmed that - in an incredible gesture - Messi is keen to meet his biggest fan. While a date is yet to be finalised, the meeting is expected to take place in Barcelona.
"Messi has been in communication with the federation to set up a meeting with the young boy," AFF spokesman Sayed Ali Kazemi told AFP.
"We are working to see whether Messi will come to Afghanistan or the five-year-old will travel to Spain or they will meet in a third country."
Working as a "simple farmer", Murtaza's father, Arif Ahmadi, admitted the family could not afford to buy him a proper football jersey. He had nothing more than a punctured ball to play with.
So instead, Murtaza's elder brother used a blue and white plastic bag to fashion a jersey out for him, just so he could be like his idol.
When AFP tracked the boy down, he told them: "I love Messi, he plays well, the shirt was made by my brother and I liked it very much.
"We do not have a football playground near our house, and the only ball I have is punctured."
He then added: "I want to be like Messi, when I grow up."
This is why they call football "the beautiful game".
- news.com.au with AFP
