Messi lookalike almost ends up in Iranian prison after proving too popular with selfie-hunters

[Muhammad10]

An Iranian student almost landed himself in a jail cell this weekend – for looking like global football icon Lionel Messi.

Reza Parastesh bears an uncanny resemblance to the Barcelona and Argentina forward and decided that it would be a fun idea to dress up as the player and wander around the Iranian city of Hamedan.

So far, so good. But Parastesh had absolutely no idea how popular he would prove with the citizens of the city.

So many people began coming up to the student and pleading with him for photographs and selfies that the police had to rush him to the local station to preserve public order and clear traffic.

Parastesh was given the idea for his stunt by his father, who noticed the resemblance a few months ago and told his son to pose in a Barcelona shirt.

Soon, the football fan began cutting his hair like the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, and it wasn’t long before he grew his beard like him, too.

Despite his impromptu trip to a police station, Parastesh is delighted with how popular his mimicry has proved and says he is now working on some football tricks to further resemble the player.

“Now people really see me as the Iranian Messi and want me to mimic everything he does,” Parastesh told the AFP.

“When I show up somewhere, people are really shocked.

“I'm really happy that seeing me makes them happy and this happiness gives me a lot of energy.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ke-iran-prison-double-barcelona-a7725031.html

 

[TahirFan]

Which one is the real Messi?

The one on the left or the one on the right

 

[CricFan2012]

Which one is the real Messi?

The one on the left or the one on the right

right

 

[Saeed]

Iranian police probably wants him to be patriotic and be like some Iranian player. Just for looking like messi? Surely there is more to this story. They are probably jealous that he gets so much attention.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Finally got to know how Messi looks like. Had read his name in sports sections.

 

[Moiza]

Sad to know that Ronaldo is now the 3rd best player.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Uncanny not like the terrible looklike that is Yasir Shah.

 

[aloo paratha]

Omg they are SO similar...

 

[CricFan2012]

Iranian police probably wants him to be patriotic and be like some Iranian player. Just for looking like messi? Surely there is more to this story. They are probably jealous that he gets so much attention.

Or they were Ronaldo fans

 

[TahirFan]

Uncanny not like the terrible looklike that is Yasir Shah.

The other uncanny resemblance

Quinton de Kock looks like England women’s cricketer Sarah Taylor

 

[confused_amoeba]

Yasir Shah can probably pass on as Messi if given the right clothes and some grooming.

 

[TahirFan]

 

[troodon]

Yasir Shah can probably pass on as Messi if given the right clothes and some grooming.

Not even close.

Yasir only slightly looks like Messi. Lots of differences though.

 

[confused_amoeba]

Not even close.

Yasir only slightly looks like Messi. Lots of differences though.

I beg to differ

 

[confused_amoeba]

 

[Pakistanian]

Puts yasir shah to shame

 

[TahirFan]

Yasir Shah does not look anythinglike messi.

He looks more like Agit Agarkar

 

[Pakistanian]

Yasir Shah does not look anythinglike messi.

He looks more like Agit Agarkar

lol who are you kidding. Yasir Shah looks super pukhtun while agarkar doesn't even look remotely like one, he only has light eyes and that's it.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Yasir Shah does not look anythinglike messi.

He looks more like Agit Agarkar

You do understand that Yasir Shah is a Pakhtoon right ??

 

[TM Riddle]

So Yasir Shah can have resemblance to Messi, a mixed Spanish Italian but calling Ajit Agarkar similar to Yasir in looks is akin to blasphemy here.Lmao at the double standards.Some of you guys have some really deep seated issues when it comes to beauty and looks .

 

[TM Riddle]

You do understand that Yasir Shah is a Pakhtoon right ??

And Pakhtoons are from outer space right smh.

 

[troodon]

And Pakhtoons are from outer space right smh.

So Pakhtuns cannot look like Indians. But Pakhtuns can look like Italians and Europeans.

Agree with Riddle. The bias is obvious.

 

[JaDed]

So Yasir Shah can have resemblance to Messi, a mixed Spanish Italian but calling Ajit Agarkar similar to Yasir in looks is akin to blasphemy here.Lmao at the double standards.Some of you guys have some really deep seated issues when it comes to beauty and looks .

Killed it. Inferiority complex and shallowness w.r.t looks are trademark of many South Asians.

 

[IAJ]

Finally got to know how Messi looks like. Had read his name in sports sections.

So did he live up to your expectations?

 

[CricketCartoons]

So did he live up to your expectations?

I don't judge sportsmen by their looks. Only sportswomen.

 

[confused_amoeba]

Yasir Shah does not look anythinglike messi.

He looks more like Agit Agarkar

Ajit Agarkhar looks more like Bilawal minus the colored eyes IMO

 

[Pakistanian]

Ajit Agarkhar looks more like Bilawal minus the colored eyes IMO

View attachment 73980

Bilawal is Sindhi and thus doesn't look anything like agarkar.

 

[Pakistanian]

Killed it. Inferiority complex and shallowness w.r.t looks are trademark of many South Asians.

So Pakhtuns cannot look like Indians. But Pakhtuns can look like Italians and Europeans.

Agree with Riddle. The bias is obvious.

And Pakhtoons are from outer space right smh.

y'all are triggered

 

[Mamoon]

Looks like some folks in here don't know what a 'look alike' means, or perhaps a visit to the nearest optician is in order.

 

[confused_amoeba]

Bilawal is Sindhi and thus doesn't look anything like agarkar.

Lol. What does that have to do with anything. Bilawal is not even a pure Sindhi, he has Persian blood in him thought Nusrat Bhutto, his Dad is of Balochi descent.

 

[TM Riddle]

Bilawal is Sindhi and thus doesn't look anything like agarkar.

Are you originally from Lahore? Just asking.

 

[Saeed]

With "genius babies" Indians will look even more Italian than Yasir Shah.

 

[Pakistanian]

Are you originally from Lahore? Just asking.

Naaah

 

[big_gamer007]

Lol anyone would have got fooled, the resemblance is way too much..

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Yasir looks more like Messi. The Iranian doesn't have the cheekbones.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1614431/messi-lookalike-thrills-football-loving-orphans-in-egypt

They may not be meeting the real Lionel Messi, but Islam Battah’s resemblance to the celebrated Barcelona footballer is so uncanny, that the children at an orphanage in the Egyptian city of Zagazig swarm around him in delight anyway.

Seeing the excitement his presence causes at such events, the 27-year-old Egyptian painter is happy to pose as the Argentine, wearing a Barcelona shirt and joining in a game of football.

“When I started growing my beard, my friends told me that I look like Messi. When I grew my beard even more, the resemblance was clearer,” he said.

“The kids’ happiness with the resemblance between me and Messi is indescribable. When you make someone happy, God rewards you. I wanted to share this happiness with them,” he added.

One of the children to play football with Battah was Ammar Ashry.

“I was so happy and felt that Messi is coming to play with us,” he said. “Now, I really want to see Mohamed Salah,” he added, referring to Liverpool’s leading Egyptian forward.