体坛英语新闻：Chinese fan follows Messi to Copa America

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, July 3 (Xinhua) -- It took nearly thirty hours to fly from Shanghai to Brazil for Hu Qingwei, an enthusiastic Chinese football fan of Lionel Messi.

Hu is in Brazil for the third time to cheer for his idol at the Copa America.

Hu watched in the stands when Messi's Argentina faced Nigeria at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, witnessed Argentina's match against Mexico at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the 2014 World Cup match against Switzerland in Brazil, and the 2015 UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Juventus. Hu chases Messi all over the world.

Hu failed to get the tickets for the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil and for Argentina's matches in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. "I was not there, so Argentina lost all these matches," he joked.

This time Argentina lost in the semi-final against Brazil 2-0, Hu was a little disappointed. "Messi is still a threat in this match, but football is a team sport. Brazil just capitalized a few tiny mistakes to win the game. The young Argentine team need time to grow up, and I hope they grow up quickly." Hu said.

Born in 1978 when Argentina won the World Cup on the home soil, Hu said he was born to be a fan of Argentina, and Messi is the best footballer in the world.

"His talent, his skills and his mentality are all I love," Hu said.

"My life needs the Copa America to be perfect. I've experienced the World Cup, the European Cup, the Asian Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the AFC Champions League; it is a pity if I can't see the Copa."

Hu's wife travels with him for all of the football matches, and says her husband has a knack for scoring tickets.

"He seems to have the sixth sense and always gets the tickets he wants, " his wife said with a laugh.