He sold incense sticks, he didn't know his face was famous and his life changed forever: "It's something unusual for me"

There are many people who yearn to be famous and gain popularity through some special talent or gift. On the other hand, on the opposite path, are those who, almost without thinking and for unexpected reasons, become recognized characters in the world.

This is the case of Juan Tomás Martín, a Rosario who achieved great public notoriety thanks to his resemblance to the captain of the national team, Lionel Messi. For a long time, he has received hundreds of job proposals as a result of his image and has become a celebrity on social networks. "They stop me a lot on the street," he assured in dialogue with LA NACION.

Juan is 42 years old, he owns a candle and incense shop and around 2005 he began to realize that his appearance generated the same reaction in others. Little by little, that trait, his unquestionable resemblance to Lionel Messi, began to generate unimaginable fame for him.

“I remember that I went to a supermarket and the greengrocer told me that I was similar to Messi, but I did not know who he was. The second time he told me again, and I asked him what he was doing. 'Someone who plays soccer in Spain', he answered me, ”he recalled in dialogue with this outlet about the time when the athlete was a player for Barcelona.

To clear up his own doubts and verify that it really was similar, he went to his apartment and looked it up on the Internet. Indeed, she could not deny what she had been told hours before: “Yes, I have an air. I was with a friend and we laughed about the situation. 'Look at this part and here', he told me while she pointed at us. Back then, we both had long hair.'”

In 2006, "Juanto", as his relatives call him, started college and all his classmates were surprised to see him: "They always told me something about my resemblance to Messi and asked me if I was a relative, perhaps because I live in Rosario" . In this way, and day by day, his popularity increased exponentially.

Its peak of repercussion was reached when it ventured into social networks, in 2013. That year it entered a contest that was looking for doubles of the "Ten" of the Argentine team and came in second place. However, he plucked up his courage and began working as a “double”, simultaneously with his other job as a merchant and salesman. In addition, he received invitations to travel the world for free and perform "presences."

Likewise, his followers began to echo his image: “I already had Facebook, but I only uploaded personal and family photos. In fact, she didn't give it much thought. Instagram was done to me by Neymar's double… We were shooting a commercial for Messi, in Spain, for Qatar Airways. One of the nights we went out with Iniesta's double and, while we were having a drink, they told me that I had to create an account on that platform. 'You can follow Messi', mentioned one of them”.

In addition to his notoriety on the Internet, Juan Martín came to the small screen as a result of his work on Loose Animals (América TV). From there, he began to receive hundreds of comments on the streets and became the center of attention of a crowd. On Instagram, his followers began to grow non-stop. Currently, he accumulates more than 13 thousand in his account @medicenmessi_, where they also celebrate his resemblance to Thiago, Ciro and Mateo, the sons of the star.

As he stated, he does not define himself as a "double". However, it is common for Rosario and Buenos Aires, the provinces where he travels the most, to highlight it: “They stop me a lot, especially in times when Messi is in the news. For example, now that we've won the World Cup, they greet me and yell things at me every block I do”. Likewise, his appearances on TV also help him become more popular. Currently, he is on Bendita TV (El Nueve), where he performs sketches with other well-known characters.

“People are more encouraged to greet me when Messi is in the news about something because they have an excuse to approach me, tell me something or ask me for a photograph. Some have never seen me and ask me the same because of the similarity, they laugh and tell me: 'You're crazy, I'm going to send it to a friend,'” he said.

In fact, there are times when, at some events, he is approached by such a large crowd that they have to remove him from the place safely, as happened this year at the World Cup in Qatar, where he traveled for his campaign with Philco, entitled, precisely , "It has an air".

"There are people who have been coming for many years and tell me, for example: 'there is one in Bendita who is similar to you', or when they see the commercial I did for Philco they also comment: 'You play Messi, but you would have to do it. you because he is not so similar,'” he said with a laugh.

The list of anecdotes is long and Juan Martín takes each of the comments that allude to this matter with humor. However, he appreciates everything that this job gave him: “That they have been confused that I am the real one also happened to me, which for me is something unusual. I have many job proposals, from making audios with Messi's voice, projects of all kinds and recording commercials. I also made many appearances, but I reject some of them ”, he affirmed.

Currently, he continues to share content on social networks and, at the same time, he carries out his routine with total normality. However, and despite the fact that he is already used to being remarked on his resemblance to the athlete, he is still surprised by the reactions that he causes among people.

However, and despite the fact that he is already used to being remarked on his resemblance to the athlete, he is still surprised by the reactions that he causes among people.