In this provided by UNICEF, Murtaza Ahmadi, an Afghan Lionel Messi fan, shows a donated and signed shirt by Messi, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. (Mahdy Mehraeen/UNICEF via AP)
MADRID — UNICEF says Lionel Messi has sent signed shirts to the Afghan boy who was pictured wearing a homemade Argentina shirt with the No. 10 on the back.
UNICEF said Thursday that 5-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi has received signed Barcelona and Argentina shirts from Messi. It said a football was also delivered to the boy at UNICEF’S office in Kabul.
The Afghan Football Federation had been trying to set up a meeting between Messi and the boy, who was pictured wearing an Argentina shirt made from a plastic bag.
The boy was photographed on Thursday wearing Messi’s signed Argentina shirt.
Messi is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Also Thursday, Barcelona extended its partnership with UNICEF until 2020, increasing its annual donation to 2 million euros ($2.2 million) from 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million).