Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi made his way to Beijing over the weekend to participate in a friendly match before embarking on a new chapter in his illustrious career. The 34-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, will be joining Major League Soccer team Inter Miami as a free agent, bidding farewell to his remarkable European journey.
The news of Messi’s arrival was shared through a post on the official Weibo social media account of the International Football Invitation, accompanied by a video capturing the players disembarking from the plane. The match, scheduled for Thursday, will see Argentina take on Australia at Beijing’s recently reconstructed Workers’ Stadium. Notably, Messi clinched the World Cup title in Qatar last December, further solidifying his legendary status in the sport.
This marks Messi’s seventh visit to China and his first since 2017. Each of his previous trips to the country has been met with immense excitement from Chinese soccer enthusiasts, despite the national team’s struggles. China boasts a massive fan base for the sport, even though its men’s national team has only qualified for the World Cup once.
Messi’s arrival quickly became a trending topic on Chinese social media platforms, captivating the attention of fans nationwide. Guo Wenwen, a 26-year-old hospital administrator from Guizhou province, expressed her excitement, saying, “I’m so thrilled.” Guo has been following Messi’s career since 2014 and owns approximately 30 replica jerseys of the Argentine maestro. She frequently shares soccer-related videos on social media, all centered around her admiration for Messi.
Although she doesn’t yet have a ticket for the match, Guo is determined to make her way to Beijing, hoping to secure one and witness Messi in action. “He is my role model, my idol, my source of inspiration, and a constant source of happiness,” she shared with Reuters.
In Beijing, hundreds of fans donning Messi jerseys patiently lined up for hours at the airport and the hotel where Messi was expected to stay. Many enthusiasts live-streamed their experiences on social media, while some chanted Messi’s name in the hopes of catching a glimpse of their idol. The stark contrast between Messi’s popularity and the public’s lukewarm view of the Chinese men’s national team was evident.
“Many Chinese fans love soccer, but the Chinese national team is just not competitive,” explained Song Gang, a 36-year-old resident of Beijing who joined the throngs at the hotel on Saturday, although he, like most others, did not catch sight of Messi as he was discreetly ushered in through a side entrance. “We hope Messi’s visit will have a positive impact on Chinese soccer. However, when you consider our vast population and the fact that our national team has been playing for so many years with increasingly poor results, we’re left hoping for improvement.”
Australia and Argentina last faced off at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar during the round of 16, where Messi showcased his skills by scoring in a 2-1 victory for his team.
