Over the weekend, Lionel Messi encountered an issue with Chinese border control due to carrying an incorrect passport.
The 35-year-old football star arrived in Beijing on Saturday to join his national team for upcoming friendly matches against Australia and Indonesia.
Messi, who traveled via a private jet accompanied by his close friend Angel Di Maria, plays for Inter Miami.
While the flight itself proceeded smoothly, border security initially denied Messi entry into China.
He was mobbed by officials and could be seen clutching his passport.
According to Mirror Sports, the issue arose due to Messi travelling with his Spanish passport instead of his Argentinian one.
The 35-year-old is believed to have used his Spanish passport due to thinking Taiwan was part of China, and he was reportedly heard in a video asking the border officials: ‘Is Taiwan not China?’
Airport personnel were confused that he’d not brought his native documents, but after a wait of roughly 30 minutes, Messi was granted an entry visa and continued on his way to the training camp.
As reported by Daily Star, Argentina will play Australia on Thursday, June 15, at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium before moving on to Jakarta the following Monday to face Indonesia at the Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno.
Australia coach wants Messi revenge
Meanwhile, Sports Brief reported that Australia coach, Graham Arnold said on Tuesday that he wants “revenge” over Lionel Messi’s Argentina when his side meet the world champions in a Beijing friendly next week.
Messi terrorised the Socceroos and scored a sublime goal in a 2-1 win in the last 16 at the World Cup in Qatar, before going on to lift the trophy.
But Arnold’s unfancied team gave Argentina a scare and the Australia coach said they will be taking the match on June 15 in the Chinese capital seriously, even if it is a friendly.