‘Tough toodles’ – Angry Lionel Messi fans in Hong Kong told to ‘get lost’ as they deserve no explanation for friendly no-show from Inter Miami superstar

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner formed part of a star-studded travelling party that left Florida for a historic tour of Saudi Arabia and the Far East. He saw limited game time during that trip, with the full 90 minutes spent on the bench when the Herons headed to Hong Kong for an exhibition match.

Said absence has sparked outrage in Asia, with disgruntled supporters being offered a 50 per cent refund on their tickets. There have been government calls for explanations, with Messi contractually obliged to play 45 minutes if fit, but Inter Miami maintain that their star attraction – along with Luis Suarez – was nursing a knock.

That should be the end of the matter according to the MLS play-by-play announcer on Apple TV, with Max Bretos – who regularly gets to see Messi in action – telling his The Soccer OG with Max Bretos podcast: “The public should know better for these games. Seeing a player play in front of you is promised to no one. So, why are we treating the fans like they deserve something here? If you are going to take to risk of buying those tickets for a game that you know damn well, anything could go haywire, especially when you’re dealing with someone who’s 36. That’s on you. The Hong Kong government is trying to hold MLS and/or Inter Miami feet over the fire because Messi did not play against Hong Kong. And then played a little against Vissel Kobe. Inter Miami does not have to show their injury report. If Lionel Messi couldn’t play against Hong Kong, he couldn’t play. That’s final. Tough toodles.”

Bretos went on to say, with it now confirmed that Beijing officials have cancelled two Argentina friendlies in China that were due to see the 2022 World Cup winners take on Nigeria and the Ivory Coast: “Hong Kong, get lost. That’s it. You don’t want it? You don’t have it, you got a training with Messi, you got to see Messi. If he came on for 20 minutes, what difference would that make to you? All this is fair play from Inter Miami. They don’t owe an explanation to anybody. If they’re going to go on tour, no matter how they market it, give me a break. If you’re a patron and you go there, you know the risk.”

Messi and Inter Miami are now back in the United States. They have one more friendly date to take in against Newell’s Old Boys – the boyhood team of Messi and Herons boss Tata Martino – before opening their 2024 MLS campaign at home to Real Salt Lake on February 21.