KUALA LUMPUR – Lionel Messi and David Beckham faced the wrath of fans today after the Argentine icon opted to sit out Inter Miami’s pre-season friendly in Hong Kong, citing a hamstring strain.
The World Cup-winning captain remained glued to the bench throughout the 4-1 friendly victory against a Hong Kong select XI, sparking frustration among the crowd of about 38,000, many of whom shelled out over 1,000 Hong Kong dollars (RM603.18) to witness their football hero.
Amid chants of “We want Messi” echoing across the Hong Kong Stadium in the second half, the discontent escalated and it became evident towards the final 10 minutes that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner would not make even a brief appearance.
The disapproval reached its peak at the final whistle, as former Liverpool and Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, sidelined due to a knee injury, also failed to grace the pitch.
Miami co-owner Beckham’s attempt to express gratitude for the crowd’s support was drowned out by boos, with fans signalling their displeasure through thumbs-down gestures.
Miami coach Gerardo Martino addressed the disappointed supporters.
“We understand the disappointment of the fans for the absence of Leo (Messi) and Luis Suarez. We ask for their forgiveness.
“We wish we could have sent Leo and Luis on for at least a while, but the risk was too big,” Martino told reporters, attributing the decision to an assessment by the club’s medical team earlier in the day.
Messi, aged 36, played only six minutes in Miami’s Thursday match in Saudi Arabia and now focuses on regaining fitness for the coming MLS season, set to kick off on February 21. – February 4, 2024