BEIJING: Football icon Lionel Messi arrived in Beijing on Saturday via private jet, greeted by an exuberant crowd of hundreds of fans eagerly awaiting his presence. The Argentine star’s visit to China comes as his World-Cup-winning national team prepares to face Australia in a friendly match next week.
Social media images showed fans chanting “Messi! Messi!” while wearing the blue-and-white striped jerseys of Argentina’s No. 10. Outside his hotel, located near the Liangma River, several hundred more supporters eagerly gathered, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
Lionel Messi’s Visits to China
This marks Messi’s seventh visit to China, with his last trip taking place in 2017, according to local media reports. The eagerly anticipated friendly match between world champions Argentina and Australia will be held on June 15 at Beijing’s recently renovated Workers’ Stadium, which boasts a capacity of 68,000.
The arrival of the global sports superstar quickly became the most discussed topic on China’s popular social network, Weibo. Fans expressed their excitement, with one user enthusiastically writing, “I absolutely want to see Messi!” Another user mentioned the memorable emotions evoked by Argentina’s World Cup victory, stating, “I am still feeling the emotions of the match when Argentina secured the World Cup.”
The friendly match holds significant importance as it signals the return of international football to China after a three-year hiatus due to strict Covid-19 restrictions. These measures had emptied stadiums and resulted in numerous cancellations of sporting events. The upcoming clash between Argentina and Australia will also serve as a rematch of their Round of 16 encounter at the World Cup, where Argentina emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over the Socceroos.
In addition to the match against Australia, Messi will participate in another friendly fixture as part of Argentina’s tour. The team is scheduled to play against Indonesia in Jakarta on June 19.
As Messi’s visit generates fervor among Chinese football enthusiasts, anticipation builds for the exciting encounter between Argentina and Australia, marking a significant milestone for international football in the country.
