Barcelona star finally meets Murtaza

Murtaza from Afghanistan became a social sensation after a picture of him wearing a makeshift Argentina shirt with 'Messi' on the back in January 2016.

Afterwards, Messi sent an autographed shirts and a football along with a personal message for the youngster.

The Barcelona star has finally met the five-year-old in Doha, according to Qatar's 2022 World Cup organising committee.

Messi is in Qatar with his Barcelona teammates for a friendly against Al Ahli on Tuesday, December 13.

According to the committee, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and Murtaza will walk out on to the pitch.

"The image the world wanted to see," tweeted the Supreme Committee on Tuesday.

"The six-year-old boy who dreamed of meeting his hero, #Messi, finally comes true."

Ahmadi and his father were forced to flee Afghanistan to Pakistan in May as a result of the war.