SUMMARY
- Inter Miami faced the national team of Hong Kong, and Lionel Messi was not participating in the match.
- Lionel Messi had faced an injury, which led him to not participate in the match.
Inter Miami has been a revelation across the soccer world in the past year. Managing to bring in the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. Inter Miami is the team that several nations want to bring in to play the friendlies.
Recently, Inter Miami accepted an offer from Hong Kong. In this match, Inter Miami faced the national team of Hong Kong. But as the match was played, Lionel Messi was seen sitting down on the bench. And further reaction wasn’t what Inter Miami had hoped for. Fans were angry to not see their idol play the whole match, and it was observed that even the government wasn’t happy with this decision.
🗣️ Tata Martino on Messi’s absence after the game against Hong Kong Team:
“I ask the fans for forgiveness and I understand their disappointment due to Messi’s absence.
We would have taken a huge risk and his injuries could have worsened if he had participated, which is why we… pic.twitter.com/DDuWRWTiSc— All About Messi 🔟 (@MessiGoatplus) February 4, 2024
Apologizing to the fans Tata Martino, the Inter Miami manager, said, “I ask the fans for forgiveness and I understand their disappointment due to Messi’s absence.” He further added, “We would have taken a huge risk and his injuries could have worsened if he had participated, which is why we made this decision in consultation with the medical staff.”
Take a look at how crucial Messi is for the team. It will be vital for Inter Miami to keep Lionel Messi for the majority of the season. It will make the Hong Kong crowd sad that their idol isn’t playing, but Inter Miami does need to think about their season first.
Lionel Messi’s stiff pre-season
Coming fresh to the pre-season, many had thought Lionel Messi would start fresh as well. But heading close to the pre-season start, it was observed that Lionel Messi had recently caught an injury, which led the Argentine to miss most of the pre-season and wasn’t fit to play full matches.
Across the three matches played against Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Hong Kong, Messi went on to play just 95 minutes in total. But across these 95 minutes of matches played, Messi showed his dominance and went on to score one goal and provide one assist as well.
These 95 minutes showcase how vital Messi is for the Inter Miami team. To keep him fit is a must for them, no matter what. While it has disappointed the traveling fans, Inter Miami has stated why Messi isn’t playing, which clarifies the situation.
Lionel Messi’s training session drew a capacity crowd at Hong Kong stadium
Lionel Messi caused a stir in Hong Kong today, drawing a capacity crowd to the city’s iconic stadium for a public training session. The Argentine superstar, widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, is currently in Asia with his club, Inter Miami.
Just one training in Hong Kong for Lionel Messi…. 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/jRItc6Jcg1
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) February 3, 2024
Thousands of fans, young and old, eagerly awaited their chance to witness Messi’s magic up close. The Hong Kong Stadium, which holds over 40,000 spectators, was filled to the brim, creating an electric atmosphere as fans chanted Messi’s name and waved flags.
Despite being just a training session, the event offered a rare glimpse of Messi’s skills and professionalism. Fans observed his precise passing, dribbling, and finishing techniques, soaking in the moment. The excitement reached a fever pitch when Messi interacted with a few youngsters, signing autographs and sharing smiles.
Hong Kong government demands answers from Inter Miami
Inter Miami not presenting Lionel Messi to the match in Hong Kong was not only the fans who weren’t happy with the decision. But the Hong Kong government was also ‘extremely disappointed’.
🚨🚨Hong Kong Government Statement about Leo Messi not participating in the preseason friendly today 👇 pic.twitter.com/FZl8YRR9bm
— PSG Chief (@psg_chief) February 4, 2024
Prior to this big match, the Inter Miami-Hong Kong match was given an ‘M’ rating (which the government agreed to help finance) as well as a funding sum of 15 million ($1.92 million) and 1 million ($1,28,000) for the venue by the Major Sports Events Commission (MSEC).
The organizing company’s arrangements regarding Messi’s absence from the match on February 4, 2024, have come as a shock to the government and all soccer fans. It is the government’s responsibility to explain this to the fans. The MSEC will take action following the terms and conditions, which may include reducing funding due to Messi’s absence from the match.