There’s an old belief that suggests each person in the world has seven doppelgangers who look exactly like them. While the belief might not be accurate, it looks like Lionel Messi has found one of his seven lookalikes. The doppelganger has shot to fame with his uncanny resemblance to the Argentine footballer. Now, Reza Parastesh, or ‘fake Messi’ as the internet calls him, has recently made headlines for his alleged involvement with 23 women.
Who is ‘fake Messi,’ Reza Parastesh?
Reza Parastesh is a 30-year-old Iranian native hailing from the city of Hamedan. He captured global attention after people discovered his striking resemblance to the former FC Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi.Â
The ordinary young man made use of his uncanny likeness to the footballer and turned into an overnight sensation on social media platforms. Reza Parastesh currently has over one million followers on Instagram.
As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. So, imagine trying to live in the shoes of the greatest footballer of all time. Reza Parastesh’s life took a lot of twists and turns thanks to his Messi-esque looks.Â
Once, he was arrested by the police in Iran for public nuisance after people began to crowd around him assuming he was the real Lionel Messi. He was subsequently released without charges and went on to get modeling contracts and interviews.
Exploring the allegations against him
Despite an actual arrest, Reza Parastesh’s costliest consequence of fame came in the form of con-man allegations. Reports emerged in 2019 that the Iranian fake Messi had tricked 23 women using his image to engage in sexual relations with them.
According to the old Marca article, Parastesh had lied to the unassuming women that he was the real Lionel Messi. He allegedly used this name to deceive them for his benefit.
These claims resurfaced recently after Messi’s high-profile move to Inter Miami FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). However, Reza Parastesh had denied these allegations when they first emerged.
Reza Parastesh’s clarification
‘Fake Messi’ Reza Parastesh immediately took to Instagram to deny the allegations and protect his reputation and credibility. He took aim at the article and threatened to take legal action for such claims.Â
Parastesh emphasized that if he had really done such deceitful acts, he would have faced jail time in Iran. He spoke about how such rumors can impact lives, especially in Muslim countries.
Reza Parastesh also spoke about how the allegations about the 23 women spiraled out of control. He revealed that he faced severe harassment, not only from the public but also from his own family.Â
The origins of the ‘fake Messi’ persona
So, how did it all begin? Reza Parastesh’s rise to becoming the internet’s fake Messi started when his father gifted him a Barcelona shirt. Once he wore it, it was hard not to see the resemblance he bore with the 36-year-old FIFA World Cup winner.
The picture went viral and Parastesh used it to become the ultimate ‘fake Messi’ by copying his hairstyle and facial hair. People began to take pictures with him just as they would with the real Messi.
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