Lionel Messi was detained at Beijing Airport over the weekend after attempting to enter China using his Spanish passport instead of his Argentine one. The 35-year-old football star was travelling to join the Argentina national team for a friendly against Australia on Thursday.
Video footage circulating on social media showed Messi surrounded by police officers as he clutched his passport and discussed the issue. Local reports indicated that the problem arose because Messi believed his Spanish passport would be valid for entry, reportedly asking, 'Is Taiwan not China?' He did not have his Argentine passport with him.
Messi was delayed for two hours before being granted a visa and allowed through. This was his seventh visit to China; he previously participated in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he helped Argentina win a gold medal.
Regarding his club future, Messi will join Inter Miami next month after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is set to become an Inter Miami player on July 5, when the MLS secondary transfer window opens. His potential debut could be on July 8 against D.C. United, managed by Wayne Rooney.
Ticket demand for Messi's matches has surged since the announcement, with prices skyrocketing from an initial $29 on Ticketmaster. The signing has boosted ticket sales across the MLS, from Atlanta to Los Angeles to Chicago.
