FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The girl has caught the attention of the authorities because of her politeness and her lack of Italian. Internet campaigners think the girl could be one of several missing people, including Madeleine McCann who disappeared in 2007, and think she bears a striking resemblance to her. The teenager has been walking around with old clothes on, no belongings and has not accepted cash from locals.

Could this homeless girl really be Maddie?

Locals have given the girl the name 'Maria'

Madeleine McCann: The search continues Fri, February 24, 2017 These are the various computer generated images of how Maddie might look now Play slideshow ph 1 of 14 Madeline McCann went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in Portugal’s Algarve 9 years ago.

There have been several people that think it may be Madeleine McCann who would be 13 now Missing Persons of America

Photos have been shared of the teenager online in a hope that she can be reunited with her family for Christmas. Madeleine vanished from Praia da Luz holiday resort in Portugal in May 2007 at the age of three and authorities are still trying to understand what happened to her. The Italian police have tried to identify the girl, who is sleeping rough on the streets with no passport or ID.

Madeleine's parents are desperately trying to find their daughter

Locals think she is called Maria as that is the name she responds to. Critics think this girl is not Madeleine, who would be 13 now, as she does not have the blemish on her eye. The website, Missing Persons of America wrote on a page for this girl, said: “There have been several people that think it may be Madeleine McCann who would be 13 now.

The teenager has been walking around in tattered clothing