Messi asked not to return to Hong Kong

Believing that Lionel Messi lied about his injury to avoid playing, Ms. Regina Ip - a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council - suggested that this superstar not return to Hong Kong.

"Never let Messi return to Hong Kong," Ms. Ip wrote on social media X. "Messi's deceitful and fraudulent ways are filthy. Hong Kong people hate Messi, Inter Miami, and the invisible hand behind them that makes them deliberately ignore Hong Kong."

Messi in the match between Inter Miami and Vissel Kobe at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on the evening of February 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong is a stopover for Inter Miami as part of their Asian tour, preparing for the 2024 MLS season. Messi had previously played two games in Saudi Arabia, but did not play a single minute in Hong Kong. Three days later, he played the final 30 minutes of a match against Vissel Kobe in Japan. After the final whistle in Hong Kong, the 38,000 spectators booed Messi because they did not see him play.

Two days later, Messi explained that he felt unwell in his thigh, so he did not play, although an MRI scan showed that the problem was not really an injury. The Hong Kong government issued a notice asking the match organizers to disclose Messi's contract. They wanted Inter Miami to explain why the 37-year-old superstar could play in Tokyo, but not in Hong Kong.

Ms Ip was puzzled that Messi apologised in Tokyo, not in Hong Kong. “I don’t have any concrete evidence, but Messi acted as if he was being prevented from playing by some political force,” she told HKFP . “He also didn’t shake hands, smile or wave to the Hong Kong audience.”

After the match in Tokyo, Inter Miami returned home to prepare for their final friendly match against Newell's Old Boys - Messi's childhood team - on the morning of February 16, Hanoi time. Miami begins the new 2024 season with a match against Real Salt Lake on February 22.

Miami or co-president David Beckham have yet to make an announcement about Messi not playing in Hong Kong, but still playing in Tokyo three days later. Messi is Inter Miami's captain, best player and top scorer, helping Miami win the team's first title in the 2023 Leagues Cup.

Hoang An

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