A humble request from a primary school student in China's far western region of Xinjiang went viral, resulting in the boy making an unexpected trip across China to visit his hero, Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi. / CFP
In a photo posted on social network WeChat by his teacher on May 14, football-mad Herike was photographed clutching a wad of banknotes, accompanied by a caption asking his teacher to use the money to buy a football for him. / CFP
Interest in Herike’s post soon snowballed, with many people online being inspired to help him. And last Friday, nearly 20 days after the photo was first posted online, Herike was lucky enough to be invited to Beijing to meet his idol, Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi. / CFP
As well as meeting his hero, Herike was also given a replica Argentina football shirt signed by Messi. / CFP
Herike and Messi hug during the Barcelona forward's trip to China. / CFP
