Iranian student gets arrested by police -- for looking exactly like Lionel Messi

A student in Iran has found himself on the wrong side of the law -- for looking like football star Lionel Messi.

According to Bored Panda, 25-year-old Reza Parastesh from the city of Hamedan noticed that he had an uncanny resemblance to the FC Barcelona star, and started styling himself to look like the Argentinean.

One day, as he was driving in his hometown, passers-by started losing their minds after they thought they had seen the actual Messi.

Reza was swarmed by people who wanted photos with him.

His car was later impounded and he was taken to the police station for disturbing public order.

Thankfully, Reza has since been released and has been offered modelling contracts and interviews.

Have a look at the Messi look-alike in the gallery above.