Lionel Messi stopped at Beijing airport for hours after using wrong passport – Reports

Argentina icon Lionel Messi was reportedly stopped at China’s Beijing Airport after failing to make use of the correct passport when getting into the nation.

Lionel Messi landed in China in a non-public jet over the weekend to affix up together with his compatriots forward of Argentina’s pleasant conflict with Australia on Thursday (June 15). The 35-year-old, who was touring together with his bodyguard and buddies, together with Angel Di Maria, reportedly discovered himself in a little bit of a pickle on the Beijing Airport.

A viral video on social media confirmed Messi surrounded by fairly a number of cops on the airport. He was caught speaking to the officers, attempting to elucidate the problem. Native Chinese language press (by way of The Mirror) has claimed that the Inter Miami-bound footballer tried to make use of his Spanish passport as an alternative of his Argentine one, resulting in the confusion.

Moreover, it has been reported that Messi thought he might get into China together with his Spanish passport, as he did when he entered Taiwan. The Barcelona legend reportedly thought Taiwan was part of China. He was quoted as saying:

“Is Taiwan not China?”

Messi, who supposedly was not carrying his Argentine passport, needed to wait for 2 hours earlier than he was granted a VISA and allowed to enter China. That is Messi’s seventh journey to the nation. His most memorable one came about in 2008, throughout the Beijing Olympics, the place his exploits helped La Albiceleste clinch the gold medal in males’s soccer.

After dealing with Australia in Beijing on Thursday, Messi and Co. tackle Indonesia on the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on June 19.

Lionel Messi is forward of Cristiano Ronaldo in a single key stat in worldwide soccer

The Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry is as previous as time. Regardless of each gamers nearing the tip of their profession, the comparisons are nonetheless raging on.

In worldwide soccer, Ronaldo has the sting over the Argentine genius when it comes to targets scored. The 38-year-old has 122 targets in 198 appearances, whereas the 35-year-old Messi has 102 in 174 video games.

Nevertheless, when it comes to aim involvements, Messi has the sting over Ronaldo. Aside from scoring 102 targets, Messi has additionally claimed 54 assists, bringing his whole aim contributions to 156. Ronaldo, in the meantime, has offered 33 assists, taking his aim contributions to 155.

Not solely does Lionel Messi has a slender lead when it comes to total aim involvements, he has additionally performed 24 video games fewer than the Al-Nassr star, resulting in a better common. Messi takes 93 minutes to make a aim contribution, whereas Ronaldo takes a noticeably longer 101 minutes.