Marcus Rashford has joked that his accent should've separated him from Maro Itoje after the Education Secretary got the pair mixed up.
The Manchester United star has been heavily involved in politics over the past year.
His public battle against child food poverty has captured the nation's attention.
He and prime minister Boris Johnson were involved in regular dialogue as he sought an extension for free school meals.
It has raised Rashford's profile and Gavin Williamson clearly thought he'd had conversations with the England forward.
When asked if he'd met Rashford the Education Secretary told the Evening Standard: "We met over Zoom and he seemed incredibly engaged, compassionate and charming but then he had to shoot off.
"I didn’t want to be the one that was holding him back from his training."
The MPs team later stated that he'd in fact met England rugby player Maro Itoje.
A spokesperson for Rashford stated that he had never had any direct communication with Williamson.
Rashford joked on Twitter saying: "Accent could have been a giveaway".
The United star is born and bred in Manchester whilst Itoje, who plays for Premiership side Saracens, was born and raised in and around London.
Itoje campaigned for millions of kids to get access to laptops during lockdown.
The rugby star was recently named the Player of the Tour in the Lions defeat to South Africa.
He played in all three Tests and is tipped as a future captain for both England and the Lions.
Williamson's error has landed him in hot water with many of the opposition taking aim at the mistake.
Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy said on Twitter: "What was it about @maroitoje that made you mistake him for @MarcusRashford?
"You must be the most ignorant, clueless and incapable Education Secretary in the UK's history."
Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP added: “The Education Secretary has let down children, parents and teachers by failing to secure enough cash to catch up on lost learning during the pandemic," she said.
"Now he has confused two black sporting heroes and failed to recognise Marcus Rashford, who has led the charge on fighting child poverty.
“If rumours of an imminent reshuffle are true, this must surely be the final nail in the coffin for Gavin Williamson holding ministerial office ever again."
