Lionel Messi was stopped at Beijing Airport and questioned by border officers about his passport.
Lionel Messi is poised to play for Argentina in an international friendly against Australia later this week, despite being stopped at Beijing Airport just days before.
Lionel Messi got himself into trouble at Beijing Airport when he was detained at border control after attempting to use his Spanish passport instead of his Argentine one. Messi, 35, landed in China on a private jet over the weekend, accompanied by his 'bodyguard' and other friends, including Argentina's Angel di Maria. He was on his way to meet up with his international teammates ahead of a friendly against Australia on Thursday.
However, as he arrived in Beijing, a video circulated on social media showing Messi flanked by a number of police officers. Messi appeared to be clutching his passport while discussing the situation with them. Local Chinese media said that the issues originated from Messi's use of The incorrect passport.
According to reports, Messi assumed he could travel to Taiwan on his Spanish passport, which was also valid in China. "Is Taiwan not China?" he was quoted as saying. Despite playing for Argentina this week, Messi allegedly did not have his Argentine passport with him.
Messi was delayed for another two hours before being issued a VISA and allowed to pass through. It was Messi's seventh visit to China, having previously been for the 2008 Olympics, when he helped Argentina win a gold medal. When Messi's contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires next month, he will join Inter Miami. Messi joined the franchise co-owned by David Beckham after reportedly turning down offers to rejoin Barcelona and follow Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia.
The seven-time Balon d'Or champion will officially join Inter Miami on July 5, when the MLS secondary transfer window opens. Following this day, the Herons' next match is against D.C. United, managed by Wayne Rooney, at Audi Field three days later, where Messi might make his debut. Naturally, demand for tickets to see the world-famous star has been high since last Wednesday's historic announcement, with thousands of tickets selling in the previous week. Furthermore, the pricing of available tickets increased from the initial listing of $29 on Ticketmaster.
In fact, the increase in ticket sales has been seen throughout the MLS, with Messi's signing seemingly capturing the imaginations of the general public across the United States. From Atlanta to Los Angeles to Chicago, sales and second-hand prices for match tickets have climbed rapidly.
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