Messi to lead Argentina in friendly against Australia in China

AFP

Argentina captain Lionel Messi will lead his side against Australia in a friendly in Beijing next month with his first visit to China in six years set to spark a mass scramble for tickets.

The Argentina embassy in China said on Monday that the World Cup winners would play Australia on June 15, bringing Messi to the country for the first time since 2017.

It will mark the seventh time the 35-year-old has visited China and comes at a time when his future at Paris Saint-Germain is the subject of intense speculation. A source close to the player has told Reuters he had received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season.

Messi has received a fervent welcome on each of his previous visits to China, which has a huge football fan base despite the struggles of the men's national team.

Since his first China trip in 2005, Messi has played for Argentina or his former club Barcelona in friendlies. The Spanish side beat Beijing Guoan 3-0 in a friendly in 2010.

News of the match against the Socceroos quickly went viral on Chinese social media, with many fans voicing eagerness to watch the game.

More from Sports

  • Dupont underwent surgery on facial injury

    France captain Antoine Dupont underwent surgery on a facial injury and will return to the Rugby World Cup squad to recover, the French Federation (FFR) said on Saturday, though it gave no timeline for when the scrumhalf might return to the field.

  • Sabalenka, Swiatek lead first set of qualifiers for WTA Finals

    World number one Aryna Sabalenka will make her third consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, as the governing body of women's tennis announced its first set of qualifiers for the season finale.

  • Shami and batters set up India's win against Australia

    Seamer Mohammed Shami claimed career-best figures of 5-51 and India's frontline batters gave a good account of themselves to secure a five-wicket win against Australia in the opening one-day international on Friday.

  • West Ham beat Serbia's Backa Topola 3-1 with own goal

    An own goal by Backa Topola's Nemanja Petrovic helped West Ham United recover from a goal down to clinch a 3-1 home win over the Serbian side in a Europa League group stage match on Thursday.

  • France's Dupont suffers possible jaw fracture

    France were sweating on the condition of captain Antoine Dupont after the mercurial scrumhalf suffered a suspected jaw fracture during the hosts' record 96-0 victory against Namibia at the Rugby World Cup on Thursday.