Pukki fever reaches France as Macron is gifted Finn's jersey

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Finland's Prime Minister Antti Rinne at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, September 18, 2019. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

(Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron has become the unlikely owner of a Teemu Pukki jersey, but he did not have to swap shirts with the Finnish striker who has emerged as the Premier League's standout player this season.

Macron was gifted a jersey bearing the name of Finland's soccer hero after an official meeting with the country's Prime Minister Antti Rinne at the Elysee Palace in France on Wednesday.

Rinne later posted a photo of the pair with Macron holding what the Finland Prime Minister described as a "small gift."

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Norwich City v Manchester City - Carrow Road, Norwich, Britain - September 14, 2019 Norwich City's Teemu Pukki celebrates scoring their third goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/File photo

Pukki has taken the English top flight by storm this season, scoring six goals and providing two assists in five matches for promoted Norwich City.

The 29-year-old Finland international was named the Premier League player of the month for August and celebrated the award by scripting a shock 3-2 victory over champions Manchester City in their last match.

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)