To play in a friendly match before joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a free agent, football icon Lionel Messi travelled to Beijing on Saturday. His appearance was announced by a video of players stepping off an aeroplane on the International Football Invitation’s official Weibo social media page, which manages the tournament. Messi, who just won the World Cup in Qatar and is regarded as one of the all-time best players, said earlier this week that he has decided to leave Paris St. Germain in France and sign with the MLS in the United States.
Messi is on his sixth trip to China at the time of writing. Messi has consistently been welcomed with open arms in China, where football has a sizable fanbase, despite the troubles of the Argentine national team, which has only ever qualified for the World Cup. Australia and Argentina last played each other in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when Messi scored one goal to help Argentina win 2-1.
The friendly game in Beijing acts as a prelude to Messi’s future transfer to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Football fans are very optimistic about his decision to play in the American League because they cannot wait to see him compete on the pitch there.
Messi’s presence in Beijing elevates the occasion and brings attention to the rising popularity of football in China due to his outstanding accomplishments and countless honours during his career, including his record-breaking seven Ballon d’Or. Fans in China and around the world are anxiously awaiting the influence he will have in the MLS as he begins a new chapter in his career.