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- May 11, 2013
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The five-year-old Afghan boy who became famous for turning a plastic bag into aLionel Messi shirt has reportedly been forced into exile, with his family fearing he is at risk from being kidnapped by the Taliban .
Murtaza Ahmadi's story went global earlier this year after he was pictured playing football while wearing the blue and white bag with 'Messi 10' on the back.
But the boy's father, Mohammad Arif Ahmadi has told the BBC the family has had to moved.
"A few days ago I got a call from a local gangster," he said. He thought that since my son had received these T-shirts from Messi that maybe he also got money and asked for his share."
The family then moved to neighbouring Pakistan after selling their possessions and initially looked to settle in the capital Islamabad before moving to Quetta in the country's northeast.
Viral: The pictures were seen across the world
In spite of his family's current situation, Murtaza is still hopeful that one day he will be able to meet his idol one day.
The five-year-old told the BBC: "Messi, you know how much I like you. Now I want you to invite me so I can come and meet you."
In February, UNICEF confirmed Murtaza had been sent a signed Argentina shirt by the World Player of the Year .
Rex
Fan: Murtaza received a signed shirt from Messi earlier this year
"I love Messi and my shirt says Messi loves me," Murtaza said upon receiving the 28-year-old's gift.
This came after Murtaza's father, Arif Ahmadi had explained how the home-made shirt had come about.
"Murtaza became a fan of Messi by watching television," he said.
"He asked me to find a Messi shirt for him with Messi's name on it but I couldn't find him the jersey because we live in a remote village far from the bazaar.
"Then his brother made a plastic jersey for him and posted his photo on Facebook."
Child who wore Lionel Messi plastic bag jersey forced into exile
Murtaza Ahmadi's story went global earlier this year after he was pictured playing football while wearing the blue and white bag with 'Messi 10' on the back.
But the boy's father, Mohammad Arif Ahmadi has told the BBC the family has had to moved.
"A few days ago I got a call from a local gangster," he said. He thought that since my son had received these T-shirts from Messi that maybe he also got money and asked for his share."
The family then moved to neighbouring Pakistan after selling their possessions and initially looked to settle in the capital Islamabad before moving to Quetta in the country's northeast.
Viral: The pictures were seen across the world
In spite of his family's current situation, Murtaza is still hopeful that one day he will be able to meet his idol one day.
The five-year-old told the BBC: "Messi, you know how much I like you. Now I want you to invite me so I can come and meet you."
In February, UNICEF confirmed Murtaza had been sent a signed Argentina shirt by the World Player of the Year .
Rex
Fan: Murtaza received a signed shirt from Messi earlier this year
"I love Messi and my shirt says Messi loves me," Murtaza said upon receiving the 28-year-old's gift.
This came after Murtaza's father, Arif Ahmadi had explained how the home-made shirt had come about.
"Murtaza became a fan of Messi by watching television," he said.
"He asked me to find a Messi shirt for him with Messi's name on it but I couldn't find him the jersey because we live in a remote village far from the bazaar.
"Then his brother made a plastic jersey for him and posted his photo on Facebook."
Child who wore Lionel Messi plastic bag jersey forced into exile
