Soccer-loving orphans are thrilled by an Egyptian Messi impersonator.

Photo Credit ( Freepik )

Even though they aren’t actually meeting Lionel Messi, Islam Battah’s likeness to the Barcelona player is so striking that the kids at an orphanage in Zagazig, Egypt, crowd around him with joy.

The 27-year-old Egyptian painter is delighted to pretend to be the Argentine, sporting a Barcelona shirt and playing football, after witnessing the excitement his presence generates at such occasions.

“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 stated.

“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 stated.

Ammar Ashry was one of the kids who played soccer with Battah.

“I was so happy and felt that Messi is coming to play with us,” he stated.

He went on to say, “Now, I really want to see Mohamed Salah,” alluding to the Egyptian forward for Liverpool.