Lionel Messi is a six time Ballon d'Or winner, considered one of the best players to have ever graced the game of football and very recognisable but apparently not according to one French television channel.
The Barca star's own lookalike Reza Parastesh, known as the 'Iranian Messi,' will never have a better endorsement of his work than being used by accident as an image of the player.
That's exactly what happened on Saturday afternoon when French broadcaster M6 were reporting on how sports stars are donating to causes during the Covid-19 outbreak. Along with an actual picture of Roger Federer was a picture of Reza.
Reza looks so much like the 32-year-old footballer that last year Marca reported that the Iranian had 'tricked' girls into sleeping with him by claiming to be the Barca star.
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However the Iranian took to social media to deny those claims, saying, "Hi friends, a piece of false news about me is trending on social media with regards to me sleeping with 23 women because they thought I was Lionel Messi. Please do not play with people's reputation and credibility.
"We are all aware of the fact that if it actually happened to anyone, there would be some complaints and it would lead to my prosecution. That would be a disaster and a calamity of international proportion. If this news was true, I would be in jail right now.
"Do not believe it, it is not true. I am going to do everything to fight this legally and make sure my name is cleared."
Messi does deserve the credit that M6 were giving him, or trying to, for his donation to charity during these trying times for many people.
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The Barcelona captain donated €1 million earlier in the week which is being split between a hospital in the Spanish city and another in Rosario, Argentina, where Messi was born.
The Argentina ace and his teammates are also taking pay cuts at the Camp Nou during the current pause of the football season.
Reportedly the players refused to take a 70 per cent wage cut, with them counter offering a 30 per cent cut, and the club eventually enforced a 50 per cent cut.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Barcelona, PSG, roger federer, Lionel Messi, French football, Spain, France, La Liga
