Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-07 10:07:35
Lionel Messi, the renowned footballer, will be starting as a substitute for Inter Miami’s pre-season friendly in Tokyo on Wednesday, as indicated by the recently released line-up just before the beginning of the match. This announcement comes after he did not participate in a friendly match held in Hong Kong on Sunday, which resulted in the disapproval of tens of thousands of fans who expressed their dissatisfaction by booing both Messi and the team’s co-owner, David Beckham, a former football legend himself. During a press event in Tokyo on Tuesday, Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, mentioned that his leg injury was improving but declined to confirm whether he would be playing in the upcoming game against J-League side Vissel Kobe.
Tickets for this leg of the US Major League Soccer (MLS) club’s pre-season tour in Japan were priced between 10,000 yen ($68) and 200,000 yen ($1,346), with even more expensive “special experience” packages available for purchase. The Sunday match in Hong Kong, which drew nearly 40,000 spectators who had also paid for high-priced tickets, resulted in discontent and angry scenes when Messi remained on the bench during his team’s 4-1 victory against a local XI. Consequently, the Hong Kong government demanded an explanation from the match’s organizers, who had originally requested public funding for the event. Following Messi’s non-participation, the organizers withdrew the government grant request.
While the victory in Hong Kong marked Miami’s first win in five pre-season matches, their previous matches included a 0-0 draw in El Salvador, a loss to fellow MLS side FC Dallas, and two losses to club sides in Saudi Arabia. Messi did make an appearance as a substitute six minutes before the end of the game in Saudi Arabia last Thursday. Miami has one remaining friendly match, to be held at home against Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys next week, before the new MLS season commences on February 21.
In conclusion, the absence of Messi in the recent friendly matches has stirred controversy, disappointment, and frustration among the fans and the public. However, Miami will eagerly look forward to their upcoming matches, hoping for the full recovery and active participation of their star player, Lionel Messi. The anticipation and excitement surrounding his potential involvement in the upcoming games serve as a testament to his immense influence and impact in the world of football.
