The Story Where it Begins

Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina’s football team, encountered a significant obstacle on his way to China for an international friendly match against Australia. The renowned star was detained by Chinese authorities, causing a significant disruption to his travel plans. On Monday, reports emerged that the player had encountered passport issues upon arrival in Beijing.

The 35-year-old star was reportedly detained due to a failure to apply for a visa. The ex-Barcelona skipper possesses dual citizenship, namely Argentina and Spain. Notably, individuals holding Spanish passports must obtain a visa to enter China, whereas they are permitted to visit Taiwan without one. According to reports, the Argentine individual believed that Taiwan was a part of China and therefore decided against submitting a visa application.

Messi encountered a language barrier that prevented him from departing the airport and getting ready for the game at the Workers Stadium in the bustling Chinese metropolis. According to reports, Messi’s visa was delayed due to his use of Spanish travel documents instead of his Argentinian passport, which lacked a Chinese visa. Following the resolution of the issue, which took approximately 30 minutes, Messi departed from the airport.

Lionel Messi’s Next Game: When and Where?

After signing his new contract with Inter Miami, Lionel Messi and Argentina will take on Australia in a friendly on Thursday, June 15, 2023. They will then host Indonesia the following week, on June 19.

Lionel Messi, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, will face up against Erling Haaland, who won the UEFA Champions League with Manchester City and set several records in his first season in England, for the award this year.