Iranian Messi lookalike taken to police station after selfie chaos

An Iranian student with an uncanny resemblance of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi has been taken to a police station after causing chaos as locals in the west Iranian city of Hamaden clamoured for selfies, the BBC has reported.

Who's the real Lionel Messi? Source: AAP

The number of people wanting a picture with Reza Parastesh was causing so much chaos that police took him to a station and impounded his car, the broadcaster said. 

The 25-year-old said his father pressured him into mimicking Messi's hair and beard, encouraging him to wear the soccer star's Barcelona jersey.

Iranians take a picture with Reza Parastesh, Iranian doppelganger of Lionel Messi, Argentinian soccer legend in Tehran, Iran. Source: AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

In 2014 after Messi scored a goal against Iran, his father called and told him not to come home.

"I was confused at first, but then my Dad asked me, 'Why did you score a goal against Iran?'"

"I said 'but that wasn't me!' He just responded that he was very furious."

Mr Parastesh says he enjoys making people happy by walking the streets dressed in the jersey, and stopping for countless photos with passers-by.