Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi arrived in Beijing on June 10 ahead of a friendly game against Australia in Beijing’s Workers Stadium on June 15, but was detained by Chinese police at the airport for more than two hours due to a visa issue.
This was Messi’s seventh visit to China, and hordes of fans were waiting for him at the airport—with many wearing replicas of Argentina’s blue-and-white no. 10 jersey made famous by Messi and other greats, such as Diego Maradona.
According to media reports, the World Cup winner was stopped at customs after his arrival at Beijing airport, and detained for not having an entry visa….