Passport Almost Makes Lionel Messi Cancel Defending The Argentine Against Australia National Team In China

Argentine national team player, Lionel Messi. (Photo: Twitter @Argentina)

JAKARTA - Lionel Messi almost canceled playing for the Argentine national team at the FIFA Matchday against Australia in China. The superstar could barely enter the Bamboo Curtain country due to passport issues.

Messi, who arrived in Beijing on a private plane, apparently used his Spanish passport instead of an Argentine passport.

Social media users shared Messi's video surrounded by officers where he was seen holding his passport while talking to co-workers.

Reports in a number of media said Messi could previously travel to Taiwan on his Spanish passport. Then someone claimed Messi asked, "Is Taiwan not China?"

They also added that he did not carry an Argentine passport, which confused local immigration officials.

As a result of this incident, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player had to wait two hours before being granted a visa and left out of the airport after the problem was resolved.

Please note, Messi arrived at the weekend accompanied by his "guard" and a number of his friends, including Angel Di Maria.

Messi and the Argentine national team will play against Australia in a friendly on Thursday. Furthermore, they will travel south to face the Indonesian national team four days later.

Messi is then expected to rest for a while before joining his new club Inter Miami in July.