2023-06-10 12:10:04
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 the Albiceleste No. 10. Several hundred others were waiting in front of 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 welcomed the sevenfold Ballon d’Or. The supporters, initially calm and rather reserved, suddenly began to shout in chorus the name of their idol at the approach of a bus which could be that of Lionel Messi. A tide of selfie sticks and mobile phones stirred, 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.
A friendly match between Argentina and Australia
“I waited from 9 a.m. to noontold AFP Liu Yuheng, wearing the Barça jersey. I thought he would come through the main door but not the back door. I was a little disappointed not to see it. As I failed to buy a ticket for the match, I booked a room in the same hotel as Messi and hoped to catch a glimpse of him.”.
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.
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