Dohuk, a war-torn region in Iraq has drawn the attention of the football fraternity after a young kid was pictured wearing a Lionel Messi ‘jersey’. This story has become so popular that according to sources, even the Barcelona and Argentinian superstar is looking for the kid.
Messi is one of the most popular footballers on the planet and it is not unusual to spot kids of all ages and even adults all over the world wearing the jersey of the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner. But, what makes this story so unusual is the fact that the supposed ‘jersey’ the child, who seems no older than 10, is wearing is made out of a plastic bag!
Messi looking to help out the kid
After this picture came out in the open, it has spread like wildfire after it was widely circulated on social media. There are reports that even the Argentina national team and Barcelona captain is moved by the image and has asked his representatives to find the kid and help him out after getting in touch with him.
However, as this news comes from a fan page on the famous micro-blogging site, Twitter, we can take the news of Messi being aware of the impoverished child’s fanaticism for the man widely considered as the greatest player in the world. But, hope is not lost as other Twitter accounts are also looking for the unfortunate child so they can give him a ‘proper’ jersey; the very least he deserves.
With jerseys costing upwards of €50, not a lot of people can spare that kind of cash to show their support for their favourite team or player. With extreme poverty rampant in the region of Dohuk, this kid showed his creativity by painting the Argentinian colours on the plastic bag and wear it. Moreover, he even wrote ‘Messi 10’ on the back to remove any lingering doubt of his allegiances.
Iraq has been the subject of unrest since over a decade and according to the United Nations, since the start of 2014 a staggering 19,000 civilians have lost their lives with a further 36,000 wounded in the Iraqi civil war.
Football is known as a comman man’s sport and there can be no incident which proves it more than this kid wearing the plastic bag Messi jersey in war-torn Iraq.
