Lionel Messi is often considered the greatest soccer star and a humble person, but he has managed to piss off a lot of fans at the start of the current season. The Argentine has conquered everything in the sport, and has one of the biggest fan followings in the world.
He is admired and loved by literally millions around the world, all of whom would do anything to get a chance to glimpse him play up front. They are even ready to pay exorbitant fees for that, and can get frustrated if they cannot see him play, which is what happened with some Hong Kong supporters.
Hong Kong fans will receive refunds for Lionel Messi’s absence
Many fans of Lionel Messi from Hong Kong will be receiving a 50% refund from match organizers, which is related to the friendly game between MLS side Inter Miami and Hong Kong XI on February 4th.
The game in question had attracted loads of Hong Kong fans in the city who wanted to see Messi play in front of their eyes. But unfortunately for them, the Argentine had to sit on the bench as he was suffering a slight injury. Many fans booed after the game and even demanded refunds immediately. They were even more incensed after seeing Messi play in a friendly game in Japan days later.
Soccer fans, who watched the exhibition match in Hong Kong on Feb. 4 in which Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi failed to play, will have until April 12 to accept a 50% refund on their tickets, the organizer of the match Tatler Asia said on Monday. pic.twitter.com/iBrZtmtHEh
— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) March 18, 2024
This led much backlash to Tatler Asia, who were the match organizers. After much criticism and pressure, even from the government, they have now decided to refund fans half of the HK$4,880 they had paid to watch the game. With some 38,000 fans attending the game, the refunds may cost them around $7.1 million. Fans who will apply for the refund must agree not to pursue legal action against the organizers.
Messi was also criticized after the game for many weeks, and he was forced to apologize to fans in a viral video as well. It seems we are finally seeing an end to this story.
Will Lionel Messi be able to play vs Monterrey?
Lionel Messi has been brilliant for Inter Miami again this season, but it seems he is having an injury problem. The captain put in a brilliant performance against Nashville SC in a 3-1 win in the CONCACAF Champions Cup last week. He had a goal and an assist, but unfortunately, he also got injured.
He was not present on the pitch during his team’s 3-1 win over DC United, where teammate Luis Suarez scored a brace. And now it has been confirmed that he will not be representing Argentina during their upcoming friendly games against El Salvador and Costa Rica during the international break. During that time, he will also miss two MLS games against the NY Red Bulls and NY City.
🚨 Official: Lionel Messi is out from Argentina games against El Salvador and Costa Rica.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 18, 2024
“The captain Lionel Messi, will not be able to be in the squad for the friendlies in USA due to a minor injury he suffered in his team's match against Nashville”. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/2exwbiGz0N
There is now a question of whether he will be available for the next games for Inter Miami, especially for the crucial CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal encounter against Mexican club Monterrey on April 4.
Coach Tata Martino confirmed that Messi’s priority is to play in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. “What is clear is that there’s an objective for him to be able to play in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. We won’t do anything that involves running any kind of risk.”
Therefore, it remains to be seen whether Lionel Messi can recover in time for the crucial game against Monterrey after the international break is over.
