Footballer Lionel Messi, who enjoys immense popularity in China, arrived in Beijing on Saturday by private jet for a friendly match, where the winner of the 2022 World Cup with Argentina was greeted by jubilant fans. “Messi! Messi!” Chanted several hundred supporters who were waiting for him at the airport, wearing the blue and white striped jersey of Albiceleste number 10, according to viral images posted on social networks.
Several hundred others are waiting outside his hotel in the east of the Chinese capital, not far from the banks of the Liangma River, which is popular with Beijingers for walks. Several banners in English and Spanish welcome the sevenfold Ballon d’Or.
Crowd in front of the hotel
The supporters, initially calm and rather reserved, suddenly start shouting the name of their idol in chorus as a bus which could be that of Lionel Messi approaches. A tide of selfie sticks and cellphones waved, while a crowd invaded the lobby of the hotel where the world champion is staying in the hope of catching a glimpse of him. In vain.
“I waited from 9 a.m. to noon,” Liu Yuheng told AFP, wearing the Barça jersey where Messi spent most of his career. “I thought he would come through the main door but not through the back door. I was a little disappointed not to see him,” laments the 26-year-old. “As I couldn’t buy a ticket for the game, I booked a room in the same hotel as Messi and was hoping to catch a glimpse of him,” he explains.
“See Messi!”
World champion Argentina, led by its captain Messi, will play a friendly match against Australia on June 15 in Beijing, at the Beijing Workers’ Stadium, just renovated and with a capacity of 68,000 spectators. The meeting will mark the great return of international football in China, after three years of health restrictions which have emptied the stadiums and led to a cascade of cancellations of sports competitions.
The shock will be a rematch of the round of 16 of the World Cup organized in Qatar at the end of 2022, where Argentina won 2-1 against the Socceroos. The world champion’s arrival in China was the most discussed topic on the Weibo social network at midday. “I absolutely want to see Messi!”, Wrote a user in tune with other comments.
“I still feel the emotions of the match which dedicated Argentina to the World Cup”, underlined another in reference to the victory of the Albiceleste after a legendary final against France in December (3-3, 4 tab to 2) .
Seventh trip to China
In a widely commented video online, Messi is seen in a Beijing airport hallway blocked by two police officers. Inaudible exchanges take place with people who seem to be close to him. Internet users assume a quack with the passport of their idol. This trip to China is the seventh for Lionel Messi, the last dating back to 2017, according to local media.
The 35-year-old, who chose to leave Paris Saint-Germain to pursue his career in the United States at Inter Miami, will play another friendly against Indonesia in Jakarta on June 19, as part of this Asian tour.