Messi mania gripped Beijing ahead of a sell-out friendly on Thursday night between world champions Argentina and Australia within the Chinese capital.
ALSO READ: Madrid confirm Bellingham arrival from Dortmund
All eyes had been on Lionel Messi, arguably the best footballer of all time and who lifted the World Cup for Argentina in December.
Hundreds of Chinese followers waving Argentinian flags and sporting Messi jerseys have massed exterior the workforce’s luxurious resort ever since their idol touched down on Saturday.
Crowds have lined closely guarded streets hoping to catch a glimpse of the 35-year-old every time the workforce go for coaching.
The man himself has stored a low profile, however that has completed little to dampen enthusiasm.
One daring fan recounted his story of spending the evening contained in the Four Seasons resort in a bid to get a detailed encounter with Messi and his teammates.
“I first hid in the janitor’s closet, then went up to the team’s floor through the fire escape staircase,” the person, surnamed Lin, advised AFP.
He was questioned by resort safety earlier than being launched.
Another fan, Li Weihua, mentioned that he had flown from his house metropolis of Shenzhen in southern China, heading straight to the resort.
He doesn’t actually have a ticket for the match on the 68,000-capacity Workers’ Stadium, which was shortly bought out.
“I just want to feel the environment,” mentioned the 29-year-old, who had by no means been to Beijing prior to now.
ALSO READ: Messi joining MLS side Inter Miami after PSG exit
Huang Yongming, 17, from the northeastern metropolis of Changchun, was extra profitable in getting a extremely coveted ticket.
“I spent around 3,000 yuan ($419) for a ticket,” Huang advised AFP. “I know it’s expensive, but I thought that if I didn’t take the opportunity, I would regret it.”
A smattering of followers had already began to collect on the stadium, even with the 8:00 pm (1200 GMT) kickoff a number of hours away and the solar beating down.
Messi is ready to hitch Inter Miami after two years at Paris Saint-Germain.
Source link
