On February 4, 2024, Miami International Football Club played a friendly match with the Hong Kong Stars team at the Hong Kong Stadium, winning 4-1. The tournament was originally held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, and it was also the Asian debut of Miami International, which attracted a lot of fans and attention. However, the highly anticipated "King of the Ball" Messi did not appear on the field, but only played the game in the stands, causing disappointment and dissatisfaction among fans. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region *** also expressed extreme disappointment in this regard, and said that the sponsorship money may be deducted due to Messi's failure to play. Hong Kong's Legislative Council member for sports, performing arts, culture and publishing Fok Kai-gang also issued a statement on this, asking the organizers to apologize to all Hong Kong citizens and ensure the quality of future activities.
Hotspot Engine Project Messi is Inter Miami's biggest star and one of the most popular footballers in the world. He played for Barcelona as captain and all-time top scorer, winner of six Ballon d'Or and six European Golden Boot awards, and is hailed as one of the greatest players in football history. In August 2023, Messi's contract with Barcelona expired, and due to economic and legal reasons, the two parties failed to renew the contract, Messi chose a free transfer and joined Inter Miami in the United States, signing a five-year contract with an annual salary of up to $75 million. This transfer shocked the world of football and also greatly increased the popularity and influence of Miami International.
Inter Miami is an American professional football club founded in 2018 with former England national team captain and soccer star David Beckham as the main shareholder and president. The team officially joined Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2020 and plays at Lockhart Stadium in Miami. The team's goal is to become one of the best football clubs in the United States and the world, and to this end, it has invested heavily in bringing in many internationally renowned stars such as Messi, such as Higuain, Matuidi, Pizarro, etc. The team also plans to build a modern 25,000-seat football stadium called Liberty Park Stadium in 2024.
In order to enhance the strength and reputation of the team, Miami International has also actively participated in international competitions, playing friendly matches with teams from many countries and regions. Among them, the friendly match with the Hong Kong Stars was the Asian debut of Miami International and Messi's first appearance after joining. The tournament was co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region**, the Hong Kong Football Association, the Miami International Football Club and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, with the aim of celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, showcasing Hong Kong's prosperity and vitality, and promoting cultural and sports exchanges between Hong Kong and the United States and other countries and regions. The match also received strong support and sponsorship from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, including providing venues, control, security and other assistance to Miami International, as well as providing high-standard hospitality and courtesy to stars such as Messi. HKSAR** has also reached an agreement with Inter Miami, one of the conditions of which is that Messi must play at least 45 minutes to meet the expectations and needs of Hong Kong fans.
However, the result of this match was a big disappointment for Hong Kong fans. Inter Miami won a comfortable 4-1 win over the Hong Kong Stars, but Messi did not appear on the pitch and remained sitting in the stands, talking to other players and staff and taking pictures. It is reported that Messi only played in the closing stages of the last game against Riyadh Victory in Saudi Arabia. After arriving in Hong Kong on the 2nd, Miami International's head coach Martino said that he would consider playing time according to Messi's injury situation. In the open training on the 3rd, Messi only grabbed laps and jogged, and did not engage in more intense group confrontations. During the match on the 4th, Messi did not enter the bench either, but sat in the stands all the time, talking to other players and staff and taking pictures. After the game, Messi did not accept any ** interviews, but left the stadium directly.
Messi's absence has sparked dissatisfaction and ** among fans, who believe that it is disrespectful and deceitful to them, as well as disrespectful and deceitful to Hong Kong.