A sales engineer with an uncanny resemblance to Gareth Southgate is being bombarded with messages ahead of the Euro final.
England will face Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday.
While the England manager focuses on leading his squad to victory, Paul Missen from Gravesend in Kent has been scoring in a very different way.
The lookalike told News Shopper that his messages have been flooded with people remarking on the similarities to Gareth.
The impressive doppelganger sent us pictures showing the resemblance.
The 43-year-old even donned the Three Lion’s manager’s infamous lucky waistcoat from the 2018 World Cup.
While the real Southgate is 50-year-old, his doppelganger is considerably younger - although it hasn't stopped fans from asking for a selfie when they get the chance.
Paul said he didn't realise his similarities with Southgate until people pointed it out.
SEE ALSO:
- Girl's tears at being handed Mount's England shirt go viral
- Bride and groom to watch Euro 2020 final at wedding reception
Much like the last World Cup, Paul's popularity has once again skyrocketed with the Euros.
Paul's partner Lauren told us: "We are constantly being told about the similarities and we have had it a lot recently with Gareth being 'man of the moment' in the Euro 2020 tournament.
"We are often stopped, which made us dress up at Butlins as him back in 2019 on the back of the World Cup.
"Everyone wanted their photo taken with him and people even walked past and we’d over hear them say 'is that Gareth Southgate?'.
"Then since this tournament, all our friends and family have been saying it."
The couple are planning on watching the final from their home in Kent, with Paul wearing the "lucky waistcoat".
Paul isn't the only Southgate lookalike to emerge this week.
Neil Rowe, who is actually a British Airways pilot, is a regular at England games dressed in full Gareth get-up.
He appeared on ITV's This Morning today after he was mobbed by enthusiastic England fans as they headed to Wembley to watch the clash with Denmark.
One fan joked today: "He does look a bit like Gareth Southgate.... When I take my glasses off."
Another thought he looked more similar to a former Emmerdale star saying: "He looked more like Kelvin Fletcher than Gareth Southgate."
A third suggested he was the Poundland version of the much-loved footie icon, while others were impressed by the resemblance.
Neil told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: "It started in the mid-90s when Gareth was a young player for Crystal Palace.
"One of my mates said: 'It's your doppelganger. Of course Euro 96 happened and the penalties drama.
"Then suddenly I was getting school kids asking me to autograph their napkins in McDonald's after that.
"I maybe pretended I was him - I don't think the napkins would be worth much these days."
Neil, who travels the world for his job, explained he had to be escorted off Russia's Red Square by police after attracting a vast mob.
Stay up to date with all the latest news by signing up to our newsletters here.
- England vs Italy in the Euro 2020 Final is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Sunday, July 11, 2021.
Do you look like a celeb? Or know someone that does?
Send in your pictures to be featured in the paper and online.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel