Lionel Messi will head back to China with Inter Miami but his last visit was a controversial one.
After Gerardo Martino's side failed to reach the MLS play-offs, they will take on Chinese Super League sides Qingdao Hainiu and Chengdu Rongcheng - with huge crowds expected.Messi travelled on a private jet but was stopped at border control, with videos doing the rounds of him being surrounded by police officers with a passport in hand., citing Chinese reports, the route of the problem was the fact that the Barcelona legend has two passports: one Spanish and one Argentinian.
He qualified for Spanish citizenship after moving to Barcelona as a youngster and spending most of his adult life there. On this occasion, Messi was travelling with his Spanish passport but did not have his Argentine one with him despite the purpose of his visit being to represent his country.Messi therefore had two wait for two hours at Beijing Capital Airport and had reportedly asked staff,"Is Taiwan not China?".
Those with a Spanish passport can enter Taiwan, an island around 100 miles from the coast of south-east China, without a visa as long as their stay is less than 90 days, but it seems as though Messi thought the same situation applied to China.Messi was eventually given an expedited visa and allowed to enter the country before helping Argentina win 2-0.
He'll be hoping to avoid a repeat scenario when early November rolls around and he makes an eighth visit to China.Lionel Messi ‘will leave Inter Miami’ as retirement plan revealed
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami announce China tour in NovemberLionel Messi’s Inter Miami have announced two exhibition games in China next month. The team, which was eliminated from the Major League Soccer play-offs, will play friendly fixtures against Qingdao Hainiu on November 5 and then another Chinese Super League side, Chengdu Rongcheng, in Chengdu on November 8.
Read more »
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi among the 11 world's highest-paid football players in 2023Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City pari Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne also make the list.
Read more »
- Antonio Sanabria hits back in Lionel Messi spitting controversy after receiving 'multiple threats'Paraguayan forward Antonio Sanabria has finally addressed the Lionel Messi spit controversy during their World Cup qualifier against Argentina.
Read more »
Lionel Messi is on his way to China! Inter Miami to embark on first ever international tour with Argentina iconInter Miami announced earlier today that it will undergo its first-ever overseas tour will take place in China in early November.
Read more »
Step aside, Tom Brady! Rapper Bad Bunny declares Lionel Messi is now the GOAT after his sensational arrival at Inter MiamiRapper Bad Bunny has hailed Lionel Messi as the new GOAT instead of Tom Brady in his latest song 'Vuelve Candy B'.
Read more »
– USMNT legend Clint Dempsey hails Lionel Messi’s impact on MLS after making move to Inter MiamiUSMNT legend Clint Dempsey believes Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami has popularised soccer in the US.
Read more »