11-6-2023 (BEIJING) Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend (also known as Messi), arrived in Beijing on the morning of the 10th, commencing his eighth visit to China. Messi’s arrival sparked excitement among Chinese football fans, but it was reported that he encountered visa problems that resulted in him being stuck at Beijing’s airport for over two hours before finally gaining entry.
According to reports from Hai Bao News and Urban Express, news of Messi being detained at Beijing Airport for over two hours spread rapidly online on the 10th, and related videos surfaced. The footage showed two Chinese police officers standing beside Messi, while staff members were seen working hard to communicate with the authorities. Messi was holding a red passport as he answered questions.
As per the plan, Messi arrived in Beijing on a private plane on the morning of the 10th, accompanied by his bodyguards and fellow football stars Angel di Maria and Leandro Paredes, who are well-known among fans.
The reports mentioned that Messi holds passports from both Argentina and Spain. It is possible that due to a miscommunication, he brought his Spanish passport on this trip, which prevented him from using the visa-on-arrival service in China. As he did not apply for a visa in advance, he was unable to enter the country directly.
After emergency procedures were carried out, and after a wait of approximately two hours, Messi’s urgent visa was eventually processed, allowing him to successfully enter the country. He boarded a bus at the airport and headed to the hotel.
Messi’s visit to China this time is mainly for participating in an international football friendly match between Argentina and Australia. According to the organizers, the two teams will face each other at the Workers Stadium in Beijing on the evening of the 15th.
