‘Lionel Messi’ backs England to finish 60 years of damage and attain World Cup last
“Lionel Messi” is backing the Three Lions to end 60 years of hurt and reach the World Cup final.
Professional Leo lookalike Jonathan Lingham reckons England will beat Argentina in Wednesday night’s semi-final and send the footie great packing. And after watching Jude Bellingham and co beat Norway in the last round he believes they can go all the way and win the tournament.
Jonathan, 51, from Oldham, said: “I think it’s going to be 1-1 and then into extra time I think Bellingham’s going to score a header. 2-1, end of. Bye Messi, bye Argentina.”
The South American legend’s lookalike has called for England players to use their height advantage against the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner to out-muscle Messi.
The Daily Star has asked the Messi’s doppelganger who he thinks will win emerge victories tonight (Image: TIM ANDERSON)
Jonathan said: “He’s not that tall. Just do what you can. Do what it takes. Just bring it home. Unfortunately for Messi his day’s going to be up – because England’s going to win.”
The Daily Star took Jonathan to Wembley Stadium to see how he measured up to the statue of World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore.
During the London trip the Leo doppleganger was stopped by tourists scrambling to get a quick flick with him. And a couple of Brits who were almost convinced he was the “Messiah” himself.
Jonathan Lignum has said Messi’s World Cup journey is coming to a close (Image: TIM ANDERSON)
The 51-year-old revealed how his journey to becoming a Messi look-alike started. The Argentine’s double agent said he had the beard and the tattoos before Messi adopted them.
He said: “I lost a lot of weight – about 3st – and everyone was saying: ‘You look like Messi’. I used to work in a barber shop. Everyone was saying it in a barber shop and when I went out to the pub.”
After strangers started asking Jonathan for selfies he decided to sign up to a lookalikes agenc.y.
Mirror image Messi has said England will win 2-1(Image: TIM ANDERSON)
Jonathan said one of the things he loves about his resemblance to the little genius is the “banter” it brings with the public.
He said: “I get a lot of Ronaldo fans saying ‘Ronaldo’s better’.
“Maybe he’s not. I’m a United fan. I love Ronaldo. So if you’re reading Ronaldo, love you man.”
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