You may remember the heartwarming tale of Murtaza Ahmadi, the young boy who went viral when a picture of him wearing a homemade football shirt was posted to social media.
The blue and white bag had the name of his hero, Lionel Messi, scribbled across it as he tried to emulate the Argentine player.
11 months later, after millions raised awareness of his love for the five-time Balon d'Or winner, Murtaza finally met his idol in Qatar when the Argentinian forward held the little lad in his arms in Doha, as his admirer donned the iconic Catalonia football top.
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In turn, he stole the hearts of millions, clinging on to his idol as he lived out his dream.
A year later though, in a tragic turn of events, the young boy has now been forced to flee his home amid the threat of a militant attack.
Murtaza and his family left behind their possessions, including the signed Messi shirt he was given when the pair met, after being hunted by the Taliban.
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According to Sky News, the boy is now living in a cramped room in the capital Kabul with his mother and brother, while his father has remained in Jaghori where he works as a farmer.
Shafiqa, the boy's mother, has said the Taliban are trying to find Murtaza by name. She also told of how they will 'cut him into pieces' if they manage to find him.
"(They) said if they capture him, they will cut him into pieces. We couldn't take any of our belongings, we left only with our lives."
Let's hope this situation can be resolved.
Featured Image Credit: Road to 2022 via TwitterTopics: Football News, Football, Lionel Messi
