If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Cristiano Ronaldo is probably blushing right now.
Before boarding the Real Madrid team bus following its aggregate victory over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, Ronaldo encountered a familiar face waiting to meet him.
That face belonged to Gökmen Akdoğan, a 23-year-old Turkish semi-professional soccer player, who supplements his income by impersonating Ronaldo whenever possible.
The Ronaldo lookalike signs autographs, poses for pictures with fans and even has his very own Facebook fan page.
Akdoğan’s glimmering smile and painstakingly tweezed eyebrows look just like those of the Portuguese striker, but he doesn’t stop there. Akdoğan and Ronaldo also share the same chic hairstyle, the same jersey number and the same free-kick technique.
The doppelgangers finally had a chance to meet face-to-face Tuesday, posing for pictures and sharing more than a couple heartfelt embraces. After burying his insuppressible smile into Ronaldo’s shoulder, Akdoğan received a wink and a friendly pat on the cheek before his idol climbed aboard the Real Madrid bus.
Though Gokmen Akdoğan might look like a small Turkish man dressed up as Cristiano Ronaldo for Halloween, his dedication and fanhood are simply unquestionable.
Check out the moment Akdoğan got to meet his hero in the heartwarming video below.
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Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@RifoWahyu33
