Lionel Messi to lead Argentina in friendly against Australia in China

Lionel Messi will lead world champions Argentina against Australia in a friendly in Beijing on June 15, the Argentine Embassy in China announced on Monday. With his first visit to China in six years, Messi will spark a mass scramble for tickets. It will mark the seventh time the 35-year-old has visited China and comes at a time when his future at Paris Saint-Germain is the subject of intense speculation.

Messi has received a fervent welcome on each of his previous visits to China, which has a huge football fan base. Since his first trip to the country in 2005, Messi has played for both Argentina or his former club Barcelona in friendlies. The La Liga side beat Beijing Guoan 3-0 in a friendly in 2010.