CHINA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi arrives in Beijing to attend a series of promotional events

Record ID: 334889

  • Title: CHINA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi arrives in Beijing to attend a series of promotional events
  • Date: 22nd July 2007
  • Summary: ARGENTINE SOCCER PLAYER LIONEL MESSI AND HOSTS STANDING ON STAGE CLOSE OF MESSI LISTENING AUDIENCE TRADITIONAL CHINESE PAINTING OF MESSI MESSI AND PAINTER STANDING NEXT OF PAINTING AUDIENCE
  • Embargoed: 6th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: People,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2SFMVUC86P0GO00K870M2XUCK
  • Story Text: Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi arrived in Beijing on Saturday (July 21) to participate in a series of promotion events for Pepsi Cola.
    Hundreds of his fans waited for more than two hours to meet Messi, who is regarded as one of the most talented football players in the world.
    Born in Rosario, a small city in northern Argentina, the 20-year-old forward is currently playing for Spanish giants Barcelona, and is often seen bringing magic to his national team.
    Along with a frenetic welcome and chase by his Chinese fans, Messi also received several gifts, including a traditional Chinese painting of himself.
    Under the instructions of a Chinese calligrapher, Messi wrote "Hello Beijing" in Chinese as a gift to the Pepsi company.
    He also learnt to play shuttlecock, a traditional Chinese sport.
    Having taken part in the Copa America, Messi is not required to join the rest of the Barcelona squad until August 15 -- after the team's pre-season Asian tour. But it is believed that he will restart training for the new season on his own in Barcelona a week earlier.
    Often touted in the media as the "New Maradona", Messi has been publicly named as his "successor" by Diego Maradona.
    During his stay in China, Messi will visit five cities and take part in different activities with 3,000 fans who, through a number of contests, won their chance to spend some time with Messi.
    "I think it is really worth it because I can see Messi. It is a very rare opportunity. I like Argentine football very much, so I support every one of their players, including Messi," said 23-year-old Chen Xiao.
    "Messi is only one year older than me. He is my idol. I have never admired any celebrities in all the 18 years of my life. But this time I become a big fan of Messi," said 18-year-old Wang Xu.
    Messi is expected to fly back to Argentina next Tuesday (July 24), and spend the rest of his Summer holiday there.
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