An Iranian Lionel Messi lookalike took to social media to deny claims that he conned 23 women into sleeping with him.
Reza Parastesh was at the centre of allegations published in Marca that he pretended to be the Argentina superstar to score with females a few years ago.
However, after Messi's recent move to the MLS, the news is doing the rounds again on social media.
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At the time, Parastesh denied all claims in a post on his Instagram account.
He said: "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.
"The news is spreading in the Muslim countries and it has been a disaster. I was severely harassed because it released the whole world on me. My family also harassed me, but the people's attack was more influential."
There's not a person on the planet who wouldn't want to play football like Messi but looking like him might be more a curse than a blessing, as one man in Iran is finding.
Parastesh has nearly 700k fans on Instagram and often takes pictures posing like the Argentina superstar, also posting pictures of the man he looks like.
Messi himself can't do much without it becoming trending news. Just taking a topless picture in the gym is enough to create a frenzy.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner left European Football in the summer of 2023 after signing for MLS club Inter Miami, who are owned by former England and Manchester United player David Beckham.
Do you think we will ever see Lionel Messi back in European football? Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, Paris Saint-Germain, Football, MLS, Argentina
Marcus Chan