LEADING OFF

MESSI SENDS SIGNED SHIRTS TO YOUNG AFGHAN BOY

Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi has sent signed shirts to the Afghan boy who was pictured wearing a homemade Argentina shirt with the No. 10 on the back. UNICEF said Thursday that Murtaza Ahmadi, 5, received the signed Barcelona and Argentina shirts from Messi. It said a football was also delivered to the boy at UNICEF’S office in Kabul. The Afghan Football Federation had been trying to set up a meeting between Messi and the boy, who was pictured wearing an Argentina shirt made from a plastic bag. Messi is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.