Cardboard fan becomes World Cup celebrity
A Mexico fan who couldn't make it to Russia to watch the FIFA World Cup has become an internet sensation after his friends took a life-size cardboard cut-out in his place.
A group of Mexico fans were set to embark on the journey of a lifetime to watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and when Javier pulled out of the boy's trip at the last second he became the subject of ridicule from his buddies.
It wasn't a new job, or family commitments which kept Javier from making the pilgrimage to Russia, rather his partner who wouldn't let him come, according to friend Matthieu Janelle.
"We organised the trip, he was included in the list. And in the end he cancelled everything because his girlfriend did not let him come. It was our duty as friend to make joke out of it," Janelle told Reuters TV .
The boys have taken their beloved cardboard companion with them everywhere in Russia, including the fanzone in Rostov-On-Don to witness Mexico's earth-shattering upset win over world champion Germany.
The stunt which was only intended to be a innocent joke among friends, has broken the internet.
Javier won't be living this one down anytime soon.
