Murtaza Ahmadi: Boy who wore plastic Messi shirt forced to flee Afghanistan

A five-year-old boy who made global headlines after wearing a makeshift Lionel Messi shirt has been forced to flee Afghanistan.

Murtaza Ahmadi's father said his family have moved to Pakistan after being bombarded with threatening phone calls since his son was pictured wearing a blue plastic bag with Messi and a number 10 emblazoned on the back.

Mohammad Arif Ahmadi said he feared his son would eventually be kidnapped.

"Life became a misery for us," he told Associated Press by phone from his new home in the city of Quetta.

"I sold all my belongings and brought my family out of Afghanistan to save my son's life as well as the lives of the rest of the family."

Murtaza was eventually identified as the mystery boy in the photograph that touched the hearts of millions earlier this year.

The youngster eventually received the real thing - from the Argentine footballer himself.

Reports also suggested that Murtaza would get to meet his idol, who has won the world player of the year accolade five times.

But the meeting has not yet materialised.

"Still, Murtaza hopes that one day he would be able to meet his hero, Messi," his father added.