Lionel Messi was stopped by authorities at Beijing Airport as the outgoing Paris Saint-Germain star jetted across the world to join up with the Argentina squad. Passport issues are believed to be the source of the confusion, with Messi entering the country using Spanish documentation.
Messi, his bodyguard, Angel Di Maria and a number of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s friends arrived in China over the weekend, having flown in on a private jet. The entourage were on their way to meet up with the Argentina squad, who are preparing for a friendly against Australia on Thursday.
There was confusion at Beijing airport, however, where Messi was stopped by border force officers. With a video circulating on social media showing the former Barcelona star in conversation with authorities, local press from China claim that the issue sprung up from the use of a Spanish passport, rather than his Argentinian documentation.
Reports also add that Messi was allowed to travel to Taiwan on his Spanish passport, and the player believed that this meant entry into China should have been smooth sailing.
The 35-year-old was quoted as saying: “Is Taiwan not China?” Messi was reportedly held up for two hours before his VISA was granted and he was ultimately let through.
Messi and Di Maria naturally drew attention from locals when they were made to wait by guards, and pictures of the legendary forward posing with fans suggest that he was not too distressed by his border force ordeal.
