Lionel Messi will soon return to China as Inter Miami has arranged to play two exhibition matches there next month after failing to qualify for the Major League Soccer playoffs.
In a nutshell:
Lionel Messi is gearing up for exhibition football matches in China.
Inter Miami has inked a deal to participate in two exhibition games on Chinese soil.
The official announcement from Inter Miami did not explicitly mention Messi.
Lionel Messi is clearly making his way back to China
Inter Miami will play a two-game exhibition series next month because they didn’t make it to the MLS playoffs.
The team has officially declared its intent to partake in two friendly matches against Chinese Super League teams. The first fixture will take place in Qingdao, China, where they will face off against Qingdao Hainiu on November 5, followed by a clash with Chengdu Rongcheng in Chengdu, China on November 8. Both stadiums can accommodate an impressive 50,000 to 60,000 enthusiastic fans.
Notably, these dates coincide with the initial round of the MLS playoffs
Inter Miami’s exhibition deal announcement didn’t mention specific players like Lionel Messi, but it’s unlikely that Chinese officials would approve the matches without assurance that star players, such as the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, will participate if they’re fit.
Chris Henderson, Inter Miami’s sporting director and chief soccer officer, expressed his excitement for this opportunity, saying, “This is a chance to build on our 2023 success and prepare for 2024 as we strive for more achievements in the coming season.”
Should Lionel Messi decide to participate
It would mark his eighth visit to China for club or national team exhibitions since 2005. Tickets for all his previous appearances have consistently sold out at a rapid pace in China, a nation known for its immense soccer fan base, despite limited success on the global stage by its men’s national team. Notably, China’s women reached the World Cup final in 1999, narrowly losing to the U.S. in a penalty-kick shootout at the Rose Bowl in California.
