As Argentine superstar Lionel Messi leaves Barcelona and looks set to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, he has taken with him a legacy that has inspired a legion of lesser-known players, compared to Often done against their will, for a 34-year-old.
Here’s a look at a Messi for every occasion:
Arabian Messi: Omar Abdulrahman
The UAE international wears the number 10 shirt just like the real Messi, and has won several awards in his time, including the Asian Player of the Year.
Now 29 years old, Abdulrahman, easily recognizable with his Afro hairstyle, has spent all his career in the UAE, mostly with Al Ain, although he once had a two-week trial with Manchester City.
The media in the Gulf dubbed him the ‘Arab Messi’; In his better days that has spread to ‘Asian Messi’.
In 2016, he scored with a Panenca penalty in Messi’s friendly against Barcelona.
The BBC once asked if he was the ‘best footballer’ you’ve ever heard of.
Japanese Messi: Takefusa Kubo
Kubo was dubbed the ‘Japanese Messi’ by the Spanish media due to his short stature and dribbling skills when he was at Barcelona’s academy.
Now, still only 20, he is on Real Madrid’s books and has spent time on loan to Mallorca, Villarreal and Getafe.
His goals helped Japan reach the semi-finals at the Olympics before losing in the bronze medal play-off.
Irish Messi: Zak Gilsenna
Dubbed as the ‘Irish Messi’ after joining Barcelona’s La Masia academy at the age of 9, Gilson eventually switched to Liverpool and now plays at Blackburn Rovers.
He said the comparison to Messi was “a bit strange”.
He was born in Perth and has chosen to represent Australia at international level, even though both his parents are Irish.
He also says that Neymar, not Messi, is his idol.
“I love watching his videos and I used to try and imitate his skills. I was in Barcelona when he was playing for the club, so it was great to see him up close,” said the 18-year-old.
Scottish Messi: Ryan Goldo
Now 25 and playing with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada, Gould began his career at Dundee United before moving to Sporting Lisbon in 2014.
After two seasons, he was loaned to other Portuguese clubs before a permanent deal with Faroese was made.
The Messi moniker came about when he was 16 and still lives in Scotland.
“I wasn’t bothered by it, but when you see it on social media: ‘This guy was meant to be Mini Messi, now look at him.’ All this nonsense. The real name didn’t bother me, it was when people read that they judged me a little early and expected more,” he said after his roller-coaster spell in Portugal.
Irani Messi: Sardar Azmoun
Iranian striker Azmoun made his international debut at the age of 19, but has spent most of his club career in Russia. Currently, he plays in Zenit St. Petersburg.
He left the national team in 2018 at 23 after Iran’s poor showing at the World Cup, but then had a change of heart 12 months later and is key to his country’s hopes of a 2022 final in Qatar.
“He has had several nicknames in recent years after shining for Iran and his clubs in the Russian league. The Iranian Messi and the Iranian Zlatan are the most used. He chooses the last one and has said that he likes Zlatan and his style on the pitch. loves it,” Iranian journalist Alireza Ashraf told The Bleacher Report.
“Azmoun believes his football doesn’t look like Messi at all.”
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