Lionel Messi tried to explain his failure to play in a friendly match in Hong Kong in a video on Chinese social media – in response to the growing backlash to his absence.
Messi He remained on the bench for the entirety of Inter Miami's exhibition match against a local team last week due to a groin injury.
He played in Japan after days of no-shows, angering his fanbase and Chinese authorities.
Lionel Messi spent the entire match in Hong Kong watching from the sidelines much to the dismay of local fans. Photo: Reuters
In a video posted on Weibo, he directly appealed to his fans on the mainland China and Hong Kong, saying that his absence was not for political reasons.
“I read and heard a lot of things said after the game Hong Kong. “I wanted to record this video and give you the real version so that no one has to keep reading false stories.”
“I've heard people say I don't want to play for political reasons and many other reasons which are absolutely not true.
“If that were the case, I would not have traveled to Japan or visited China, as I have done many times.
“From the beginning of my career, I have had a very close and special relationship with China.”
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi was unable to play in Hong Kong due to injury, but took to the field in Tokyo just days later. Pic: AP Image/Eugene Hoshiko
The 36-year-old reiterated the reason for his absence from the highly anticipated match, with each ticket priced at HK$4,880 (£500).
He said: “As I said in the press conference, I was suffering from connective muscle inflammation and was unable to play in the first match in Saudi Arabia, and that’s when I felt it.”
“In the second match I tried to play a little, but it got worse. Then the day before the match [in Hong Kong] I tried to practice and made an effort for everyone who came to watch the training.
“I felt a little better after a few days and that's why I played for a while in Japan to prepare physically for everything that's coming because I needed to play and get my speed back.”
Angry fans have demanded a refund after Lionel Messi did not play in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong. Photo: AP
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Organizers of the Hong Kong friendly, Tatler Asia, have announced a 50% capacity. Ticket refund After criticism from the Hong Kong government.
In an editorial, China's state-backed nationalist newspaper Global Times suggested that Messi and Inter Miami had “political motives” and that “external forces” were trying to embarrass Hong Kong.
The Argentine footballer is considered one of the greatest players of all time – and perhaps the best of all time. In 2022, he won the World Cup with Argentina. He has also won the Ballon d'Or, an annual award for that year's best player, eight times.
After a no-show in Hong Kong, the Beijing Football Association canceled Argentina's friendly match against Ivory Coast, which was scheduled to be held in the Chinese capital in March.
Sports authorities in Hangzhou also canceled a friendly match between Argentina and Nigeria.
