Lionel Messi is expected to go back to China within five months after Inter Miami signed a deal to play two exhibition games there next month.

Lionel Messi (center) of Argentina competes during the Round of 16 match between Argentina and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Dec 3, 2022. (CAO CAN / XINHUA)

On its official website on Sunday, the team said it would play a pair of friendlies against Chinese Super League teams, first in Qingdao against Qingdao Hainiu on November 5 and then against Chengdu Rongcheng in Chengdu on November 8.

Inter Miami's announcement of the deal did not specifically mention Messi or any other player, though it would be surprising if Chinese officials agreed to the games without some sort of guarantee that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and the team's other best-known standouts — Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba among them — would be making the trip if physically able.

The FIFA World Cup trophy and seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has played in China this past June, shortly after he stunned much of the soccer world by announcing that he was signing a 2 1/2-year contract worth around $150 million to come to MLS and play for Inter Miami. He scored barely one minute into a match for Argentina against Australia in Beijing on June 15, and later was surprised by a fan wearing a Messi jersey and getting onto the field to ask for a hug.

Messi also won Olympic gold in China, helping Argentina win the title at the Beijing Games in 2008. He and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham have enormous followings in Asia, along with several endorsement deals in the region.

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