Argentina – Australia in China | Watch Lionel Messi at All Costs: A Chinese Fan Makes His Dream Come True

Hours of waiting, an expensive hotel room, a chase through the streets of Beijing: nothing discouraged, Liu Yuhong, Lionel Messi’s unconditional supporter, finally got to see the Argentine star up close. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who is currently in the Chinese capital for Thursday’s Argentina-Australia friendly, has been cheering the crowd since his arrival in China on Saturday.

Among them: Liu Yuhong, a 26-year-old programmer who has been following the soccer world champion’s performance for ten years. “He’s not just an athlete, he’s an artist“, the young man told AFP on Monday.”It gives more meaning to my life. It even became a kind of faith for me.“

When he learned that Lionel Messi was coming to China for a match, Liu Yuhang knew he had to do a lot to see his idol in the flesh. He was the first to join a group of fans waiting for the star outside the Argentina team hotel. Waste of time: He couldn’t see the world champion.

Don’t consider. Liu Yuhong spent the considerable sum of 2,000 yuan (260 euros) in China to book a room inside a five-star establishment. But he was again defeated by a critical security device. His luck came on Sunday evening, when Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni left the hotel on his way to a training session.

Bike chase

Liu Yuhong then chased the team bus on a bicycle before finding himself panting and sweating near the vehicle at a red light. His reward: a brief wave from a confused-looking Lionel Messi and a remote selfie with the Argentina star, sitting on a coach visible in the background. “I was really happy“, Liu Yuhong explains.”I ended up spending a lot of money. But if I hadn’t (…) I might have regretted it for the rest of my life!”

Official ticket prices for the Argentina-Australia match ranged from 580 to 4,800 yuan (75 to 625 euros) and sold out very quickly. “I tried to buy one, but I couldn’t“Liu Yuhong says, he will watch the meeting online with friends.