There Are Many Strange Things Behind Messi’s Soccer Game in China: Analysts

Lionel Messi of Argentina reacts during the international friendly match between Argentina and Australia at Workers Stadium in Beijing on June 15, 2023. Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

On June 15, the Argentine men’s football team and the Australian men’s football team played a friendly match in Beijing, China. The result of the game was 2–0, with Argentina winning without a doubt under the leadership of soccer star Lionel Messi. However, there were several very unusual aspects that made people wonder what was going on.

Some commentators believe that it was more of a political show than a sports event.

Involvement of Multiple Government Departments of CCP

Before the start of the game, the organizer read out a long “thank you” list, thanking the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the National Immigration Administration, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the Beijing Municipal Government, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, the Chinese Embassy in Argentina, and the Chinese Embassy in Australia, and the Chinese Football Association. The organizer also thanked the Argentine Embassy in China and the Australian Embassy in China.

Not a single commercial company is included in this long list, all are government organizations. Epoch Times columnist Zhou Xiaohui said in a commentary that for such a sports event, it is quite unusual to involve so many departments. He said this deliberately arranged event had another purpose.

The Organizer Has No Relevant Experience

Chinese state media reported that the event was organized by three companies from Shaanxi Province, China: China Hongqiao International Investment Co., Ltd., Shaanxi Provincial Sports Industry Group Co., Ltd., and Shaanxi Hongqiao Jingwei Industry Development Co., Ltd. However, China Hongqiao International Investment Co., Ltd. was the only one that made a public appearance.

According to Tianyancha, a Chinese business data platform, China Hongqiao International Investment Co., Ltd. was established in July 1991. The company’s data was recently updated in May, to include “organizing sports competition organization” and “sports event planning,” etc, in its business activities. Apparently, the company changed its business scope specifically for this game.

Independent writer Zhuge Mingyang spoke to The Epoch Times on June 22 to share his thoughts on why a company with no relevant experience came forward to organize this event.

The three companies hosting the game are all from Shaanxi Province, the hometown of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Therefore, having Shaanxi company host the event is likely intended to flatter Xi.

“This is more of a political show than a sports event,” he said.

Sponsors Likely Have No Commercial Interest to Gain

According to the Chinese sports media “Lazy Bear Sports,” the appearance fee of the Argentine team is about $7 million, and the appearance fee of the Australian team is about $700,000.

Due to the inexperience of the organizers and the rush of time to host the competition, Messi did not take part in any commercial activities as a brand ambassador during his visit to China. For the same reason, all offline activities including the welcome dinner and media interviews were also canceled.

In addition, the organizers have to pay for travel expenses, security costs, rental of the venue, and promotional expenses. Hooxiao Media, an outlet run by the Chinese Advertising Association, reported that with only two weeks left in the competition, the organizers were still “actively” recruiting partners, and failed to generate much interest.

“Companies always put profits first. So why do they [the organizing companies] do such an unprofitable thing? Obviously, this is a political mission that must be accomplished,” said Zhuge Mingyang.

He pointed out that the day of the game was June 15, Xi’s 70th birthday.

“Xi Jinping is very fond of soccer, so very likely this game was specially arranged by Xi’s subordinates to celebrate his birthday,” he said.

In addition, there had been some connection between Xi and Messi in the past. In July 2014, when Xi visited Argentina, he was given Messi’s No. 10 jersey. In October of the same year, when Messi participated in a game in Beijing, he once again gave his No. 10 jersey to Xi.

Chinese Teen Fan Not Punished Seriously

For many Chinese, the biggest highlight of this game was not Messi, but a teenager who suddenly broke into the field. At 61 minutes into the game, a young Chinese fan wearing Argentina’s No. 10 uniform jumped from the 10-foot-high stands and entered the field.

He first ran towards Messi, hugged him, and then ran wildly with the security guards chasing him. With tens of thousands of people watching and cheering, the teenager ran with his arms wide open, leaving two security guards behind, and then gave a high-five to Argentine goalkeeper Damián Emiliano Martinis.

For more than a minute, no one in the field could catch up to him. The teenager ran around the field and finally fell to the ground exhausted. Seven security guards rushed up and carried him out of the field on all fours. Photos posted online showed the boy being carried away with a big smile on his face.

Despite the interruption of the game, Beijing Workers Stadium was abuzz with excitement as the crowd in the stands yelled “Bravo!”

After the young fan returned to the auditorium, he was treated like a hero. Many fans took photos with him and expressed their congratulations with envy.

The episode became a media sensation. As of 6:00 p.m. on the next day, the Chinese social media Weibo had nearly 600 million views of “Fan rushed into the field to hug Messi” and related topics. Media domestic and abroad both reported it as well.

Unlike in the past, the incident was not characterized as a political one, and the boy’s behavior was not described as an act of sabotage. On the contrary, the organizers stated that they understood the emotions of sports fans, and Chinese state media did not make things difficult for him. In the end, he was only subjected to administrative detention and was not allowed to enter the stadium to watch another game within 12 months.

Senior commentator Shi Shan addressed this when he spoke to The Epoch Times on June 18.

“I think it is very likely that Xi Jinping laughed when he saw this scene. He probably thought it was very funny, so this young man didn’t have to suffer. If Xi Jinping was angry and frowning, this young man would have been in jail,” he said.