Lionel Messi failure to groom the field in Hong Kong left piles fans discouragedbut the football icon hinted at a potential return, this time at Tokyo peat.
The star’s absence during the much-anticipated match at the Hong Kong Stadium not only disappointed fans but also caused a publicity crisis for his Major League Soccer team and the event’s local organizers.
Speaking to the media for the first time since the debacle at a press conference in a Tokyo hotel, Messi expressed his regret at missing the game, attributing it to swelling in his adductor muscle.
“In Hong Kong we had an open training and I went out because there was a big crowd and a clinic with kids, and I wanted to be there and participate.
“But the truth is that the discomfort was still there and it was very difficult for me to play. I can understand that people were looking forward to it and I hope I get the chance to play in Hong Kong again.”
As anticipation builds for Wednesday’s friendly against J-League champions Vissel Kobe, the 36-year-old remained uncertain about his participation.
“For tomorrow, I don’t know, we will have to see how he will be in training today.
“We still don’t know if I can or not, but I feel a lot better than a few days ago and I really want to be able to play.”
Messi took to the stage alone for the press conference, as the performances of co-owner David Beckham, coach Tata Martin and teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez were suddenly cancelled, they reported. Bangkok Post.
Unlike the sold-out spectacle in Hong Kong, tickets for the match in Tokyo were still available a day before kick-off, although they went on sale at the end of December.
ORIGINAL STORY: Lionel Messi arrives in Hong Kong for a friendly match
Lionel Messi’upon arrival in Hong Kong he sent football fever he soared in the region, as a powerful maestro and his Inter Miami the cohorts landed at Hong Kong International Airport on theirs private jet. The soccer sensation’s visit, delayed by a hiccup at Riyadh airport, has the city buzzing with anticipation.
The team, fresh from two matches against Saudi clubs in Riyadh, landed today at 14:30 local time, just half an hour later than the originally planned welcome ceremony at 14:00. The delay was attributed to logistical challenges faced by Riyadh, delaying the eagerly awaited unveiling of Messi and his star teammates.
The Hong Kong Premier League is buzzing with excitement as Inter Miami prepares to clash with the local team at the Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday. The game, part of their extensive pre-season tour spanning five countries and an astonishing 24,000 miles (39,000 kilometers), promises to be an exhibition of footballing prowess, with Messi taking center stage.
Co-owner and football legend David Beckham, after a brief visit to Bangkok, Thailand, reportedly landed early for a behind-the-scenes commercial engagement before the main event. Inter Miami’s squad, which includes the likes of Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, is set to grace the pre-match press conference at the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel this afternoon, adding to the pre-match excitement.
Sunday’s clash became the most attractive event in the city when news of Messi’s visit broke. Fans snapped up tickets priced between HK$880 and HK$4,880 (roughly 4,000 to 22,000 baht) within an hour of going on sale in December. The anticipation is palpable, and the entire city is eagerly awaiting the exhibition game.
Football madness doesn’t stop with the match. Inter Miami has planned an open training session at the Hong Kong Stadium for tomorrow, for which tickets have already been snapped up by eager fans. City authorities generously distributed around 15,000 tickets to local communities, ensuring widespread participation, the South China Morning Post reported.
Injury and defeat
Off the pitch, Miami club staff are on hand to host two football clinics for nine to 14-year-olds and selected charities, adding a warm touch to your visit.
Despite reports that Messi was nursing a hamstring injury, the soccer maestro played a brief seven-minute cameo in Miami’s 6-0 rout against Al Nassr in Riyadh. A much-anticipated clash between Messi and his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who is also struggling with injury, failed to materialise, leaving fans disappointed.
As excitement reaches its peak, anticipation for Messi’s performance in the Hong Kong match is unparalleled, with government sources revealing Messi’s contractual obligations bind him to the game, barring unforeseen illness or injury.
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