MLS
Lionel Messi issues Hong Kong video apology
The Inter Miami captain has spoken publicly about his absence for the preseason friendly and addressed conspiracy claims.
More than two weeks after Inter Miami strolled to a 4-1 victory over a Hong Kong Select XI in a preseason friendly, the fallout from the game continues.
The Herons were comfortable winners but were without Lionel Messi for the game. The Argentine sat on the bench for the duration of the 90 minutes as the local support grew increasingly frustrated at his no-show.
In the aftermath of the game there were official complaints, ticket refunds and claims of a diplomatic conspiracy designed to embarrass the Hong Kong government. On Monday, just two days before the start of the 2024 MLS campaign, Messi released a video statement addressing the claims.
What did Lionel Messi say about Hong Kong?
The Argentinian World Cup winner is a man of few words, usually preferring to let his feet do the talking. But in Hong Kong his feet remained firmly planted to the substitutes’ bench and he has opted to issue a public apology.
Messi said: “I have read and heard many things that were said after the game in Hong Kong. I wanted to record this video to give you the true version and not have to read false things.”
“As you all know I always want to play and be involved in every game. I’ve heard people say that I did not play for political reasons.
“If that had been the case, then he would not have travelled to Japan or visited China so many times. Since I started my career I have had a great relationship with China, from interviews, matches and events, both with Barcelona and the national team.”
What is Lionel Messi’s injury?
As well as apologise for the absence, Messi went into greater detail about the nature of the injury that had kept him out of part of Miami’s preseason.
The 36-year-old said that he did not play the match in Hong Kong because he “had an inflammation in his adductor and could not participate.”
He continued: “The first match I played in Arabia I felt it, in the second I tried to play and it was worse. I tried to train and make an effort the day before because of all the people there. In fact, I did what I could and was at the clinic with all the kids there. But the truth is I couldn’t play because I felt discomfort and there was a risk of getting worse.”
Tensions in Hong Kong were inflamed just days after the Miami friendly when Messi appeared for Miami in the following preseason fixture against Vissel Kobe.
Messi explained that as “the days went by, I felt a little better. That’s why I played for a while in Japan to continue improving physically for everything that is coming to me now, because I needed to play and get into a rhythm again.”
With their season opener fast approaching it looks like Inter Miami will have their captain ready to start against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. After a busy preseason schedule, the real work begins now for Inter Miami.