Lovers of football in Egypt especially those rooting for Spain’s La Liga giants Barcelona have been wowed by the striking resemblance between Lionel Messi and Egyptian painter Islam Mohammed Ibrahim Battah.
The 27-year old has hit celebrity status for looking almost identical with the Argentine footballer, generally reputed as the world’s best player.
There has been pure joy on children’s faces in an orphanage in the town of Zagazig, north of Cairo as Battah donning a Barcelona shirt played football with them.
He is an instant hit with young football fans some of them falling over each other to take selfies with the “Egyptian Messi”.
Some of the children said although they could not get the real Messi, Battah was a fitting candidate to fill his football boots for an exhibition match.
Speaking to the international media, the Egyptian who had not enjoyed such a stellar reputation as a painter, said friends had first pointed out that he looked exactly like Messi.
“When I grew my beard even more, the resemblance was clearer,” he said.
WN/as/APA