June 15, (THEWILL) – Excitement and anticipation filled the air in Beijing as the Chinese capital braced itself for a thrilling friendly match between world champions Argentina and Australia.
The main attraction, Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, had captivated fans’ attention since his arrival on Saturday. Having recently led his nation to victory in the World Cup, Messi has kept a low profile, but that has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of the hundreds of Chinese fans eagerly awaiting a glimpse of their idol.
Outside the team’s luxury hotel, crowds of supporters waving Argentinian flags and donning Messi jerseys have gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of the 35-year-old football icon. Heavily guarded streets have become the backdrop for fans eagerly awaiting the team’s training sessions.
Such is the fervour surrounding Messi that some fans have gone to extreme lengths to get closer to their idol. One daring fan, surnamed Lin, shared his escapade of spending a night inside the Four Seasons hotel, initially hiding in a janitor’s closet before making his way to the team’s floor through the fire escape staircase.
As the match approached, fans without tickets also flocked to the team’s hotel, eager to soak in the atmosphere of the occasion. Li Weihua, a 29-year-old from Shenzhen, expressed his excitement about being in Beijing for the first time, despite not having secured a ticket for the match at the 68,000-capacity Workers’ Stadium, which was quickly sold out.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Huang Yongming from Changchun successfully acquired a highly sought-after ticket, albeit at a cost of around 3,000 yuan ($419). Despite the blazing sun and time remaining until kickoff, a smattering of fans had already gathered at the stadium.
Messi, who is set to join Inter Miami after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, is continuing to represent Argentina with moves that captivate fans from all corners of the world. The Argentina-Australia clash promises to be a memorable encounter, as supporters eagerly await the opportunity to witness the magic of Messi on the pitch one more time.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
