ASSOCIATED PRESS
ポリ袋で再現したサッカー・アルゼンチン代表のリオネル・メッシ選手のユニフォームを着ていたアフガニスタンの少年に、うれしいサプライズだ。
メッシ選手本人から直筆サイン入りのユニフォーム2着がプレゼントされたと、BBCなどが2月25日に報じた。
時事通信によると、この少年はアフガニスタンの東部ガズニ州で暮らす5歳のムルタザ・アフマディ君。少数民族のハザラ人の家庭は貧しかったため、ユニホームを買う経済的余裕はなかった。そこで15歳の兄、ホマユン君が作ったもので、サインペンでメッシ選手の名前が書かれたポリ袋製のユニホームをムルタザ君のために作ってあげたという。
この写真がFacebookに投稿されたことで「小さなメッシ」と世界中で話題になっていた。
ポリ袋製のユニフォームを着たムルタザ・アフマディ君
メッシ選手は国連児童基金（ユニセフ）の親善大使を務めており、今回のユニフォームもユニセフを通じて送った。ユニセフ・アフガニスタン支部の報道官は、「ムルタザ君は終始笑顔だった。『メッシ選手大好き』と何度も言っていた」と話していたという。
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ポリ袋の「小さなメッシ」
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