06 February 2024 , 13:15
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Lionel Messi has expressed his regret about missing Inter Miami 's pre-season friendly against Hong Kong after the 36-year-old World Cup-winning Argentine was ruled out through injury.
Messi played in both of Inter Miami's games in the Middle East, a 4-3 loss to Al-Hilal and a 6-0 defeat to long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr before jetting off with his teammates to Asia.
Ronaldo did not feature in the latter game as he had picked up a knock and Messi's participation was also limited due to a niggling injury. However, the injury Messi was nursing was enough to keep him from playing against Hong Kong, much to the fans and the region's displeasure.
Fans donning Messi's No. 10 Argentina shirt were seen in the stands putting their thumbs down as the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner sat on the bench in a tracksuit. A disgruntled Inter Miami fan took out his frustrations on a poster of Messi, kicking his cardboard head off. The fans present at the arena had paid 1,000 Hong Kong dollars (£101) to watch Miami, with club owner David Beckham also present.
Hong Kong’s government also said it will seek an explanation from the game’s organisers for Messi’s absence. "Regarding Messi not playing the match day, the Government, as well as all football fans, are extremely disappointed about the organiser's arrangement,” their statement read.
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“The organiser owes all football fans an explanation. The Major Sports Events Committee will take follow-up action with the organiser according to the terms and conditions, which includes reducing the amount of funding as a result of Messi not playing the match.”
Messi has now responded to the pre-season disaster and says he hopes he and the team can return to Hong Kong again to play a match. "Unfortunately in football things can happen in any game, that we may have an injury. It happened to me," Messi said.
Messi sat on Inter Miami's bench in Hong Kong (Getty)
The football icon is nursing an injury ahead of the 2024 MLS season (Getty)"I couldn’t play in the Hong Kong match, and it was a shame because I always wanted to participate, I wanted to be there and even more so when it came to these matches. When we travelled so far and people were so excited to see our matches. I hope we can return and we play another game and I can play as I do whenever I can. But the truth is that it is a game that I was not able to participate.”
Inter Miami will play Japanese side Vissel Kobe at the Japan National Stadium on Wednesday. A friendly against Messi's beloved Newell's Old Boys will follow next week.
The Sunshine State-based franchise's MLS opener will then take place on Feb. 22 at home against Real Salt Lake.