Your current location:HOME >opinions >Argentina wins friendly match as fans give warmest of welcomes in Beijing 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 21:41:18 Source: Internet compilationEdit:opinions
Argentina's Lionel Messi tries to maneuver around Australia's Kye Rowles during a friendly match at
Argentina's Lionel Messi tries to maneuver around Australia's Kye Rowles during a friendly match at Workers' Stadium on Thursday in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]
From the sea of fans at the airport when they landed, to the deafening cheers at the packed Workers' Stadium on Thursday, megastar Lionel Messi and the World Cup-winning Argentina soccer squad were given the warmest of welcomes in Beijing.
Messi thrilled the more than 50,000 spectators at Workers' Stadium on Thursday night by scoring the first goal only 81 seconds after the match kicked off. German Pezzella scored Argentina's second goal, at 68 minutes, to secure the team's 2-0 victory in the friendly match against Australia.
"I can't even remember how many times I have come to China," Messi told the weekly newspaper Titan Sports through an interpreter. "Chinese fans' love for me remains the same, and the fans are very kind to me. I'm so happy to be here."
Thursday's game was the first time the Argentine squad have played a match in a foreign country since winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year. Messi and his teammates were thrilled to play in front of Chinese fans.
Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico wrote on Chinese social media: "Thanks to all our fans for your warmest welcome. Love you all, my Chinese football fans. In love with Beijing."
Since Saturday, when Messi and his teammates arrived in Beijing, Chinese fans had showed great enthusiasm. Fans took every possible opportunity to see the team, with large crowds angling for photographs and chanting Messi's name outside the team's hotel and on the sidewalk, where fans could see the team's bus.
Thursday's match attracted massive media attention and generated trending topics on social media platforms. For example, hashtag "Messi scored in 81st second" became the top trending topic on Sina Weibo, resulting in more than 40 million views by Thursday night.
"It's a dream come true for many fans that Argentina's national team could come to China," Sabino Vaca Narvaja, Argentina's ambassador to China, told China Central Television.
"Our team has been accompanied by many people outside hotels, on the streets and nearly everywhere. I'm astonished by the passion.
"Sports is the best ambassador of our country, especially soccer," he added. "The arrival of our national soccer team is just a start. We are going to have more cooperation in the future."
This is the eighth time that Messi has come to China. His popularity soared anew after he led Argentina to win the World Cup title last year.
Messi visited China for the first time in 2004 when he was 17 years old, and he participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning a gold medal with Argentina's national team.
"The most important thing for people to do is what he or she loves. We are doing what we love, which is playing soccer," Messi told Titan Sports. "Looking at my age, I know a sports career is very short. Time flies. The important thing is to enjoy every moment."
Socialite Jasmine Hartin enjoys beach snuggle with electrician hunk2024-05-21 21:23
Multiple safety issues haunt Boeing2024-05-21 21:20
Xinhua Headlines2024-05-21 20:05
Experts call for halt to toxic water discharge2024-05-21 20:03
Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership2024-05-21 19:40
Europe's far2024-05-21 19:31
Lin Xiaojun wins 500m gold at short track speed skating worlds2024-05-21 19:22
Jilin eyes stable foreign trade growth in 20242024-05-21 19:19
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored2024-05-21 19:12
US firms voice confidence in China at CIIE2024-05-21 19:06
Australia, New Zealand send planes to evacuate nationals from New Caledonia2024-05-21 21:09
New faces set to lead China2024-05-21 20:44
China secures Paris women's epee berth with World Cup silver2024-05-21 20:37
Chinese bank unveils green bond in London2024-05-21 20:20
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University2024-05-21 20:13
Albanese's visit boosts China2024-05-21 19:57
Closure of Gaolan Port Bridge in Guangdong Huangmao Sea cross2024-05-21 19:40
Books on Study, Practice of Xi Jinping's Economic Thought Published2024-05-21 19:26
Flight attendant reveals why plane passengers should NEVER fall asleep before take off2024-05-21 19:17
CPC Central Committee Holds Consultative Meeting on Reform Plan of Party, State Institutions2024-05-21 19:16