Lionel Messi has been detained by Chinese police. Yes, you read that right.
When the Argentine arrived to Beijing to play a friendly with Australia, he got stuck in the airport due to passport issues.
It turned out that a visit to China requires applying for a visa and Leo didn’t have one.
For context: Messi has both Argentine and Spanish passports, and he travelled all the way to China with the Spanish one.
The citizens of Spain do not have visa-free entry to PRC, but they can enter Taiwan without a visa. Leo assumed that Taiwan is part of China and therefore did not apply for a visa beforehand.
The language barrier made it difficult for the Argentine to explain himself to the Chinese guards, but all worked out well eventually.
Leo has been given an expedited visa and will be able to play against the Aussie at the Workers’ Stadium this Thursday, June 15.