The much-anticipated appearance of soccer legend Lionel Messi in Hong Kong did not go as planned, as the star player was sidelined with a hamstring injury and did not play in Inter Miami’s 4-1 victory over a Hong Kong XI. This led to disappointment and anger among the 40,000 fans who had paid to see Messi in action, with some even chanting “refund” and booing the visiting team and their co-owner, David Beckham.
Despite being widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi’s performance was limited to a simple stretching session during an open training session the day before the match. The disappointment of the fans was further exacerbated when Beckham attempted to address the crowd, only to be drowned out by booing as many fans headed for the exits.
The event had started on a positive note, with local stars G.E.M, Gareth T, and Mirror member Keung To entertaining the crowd, which included the city’s leader, John Lee. However, the absence of Messi from the game left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans who had hoped to witness the soccer icon in action.
SCMP’s live blog of the event has been made available as a public service, with the publication urging readers to support their journalism by subscribing. The reporting of the event was done by Josh Ball, Ezra Cheung, Paul McNamara, Connor Mycroft, and Mike Chan.
In conclusion, the eagerly awaited appearance of Lionel Messi in Hong Kong ended in disappointment and frustration for fans, highlighting the unpredictable nature of sports and the disappointment that can accompany high expectations.
News Summery :
– Lionel Messi did not play in Inter Miami’s 4-1 victory over a Hong Kong XI, disappointing the 40,000 fans who had paid to see him play.
– Fans turned on the visiting team and co-owner David Beckham, chanting “refund.”
– Messi was carrying a hamstring injury and remained on the bench as an unused substitute.
– Beckham was booed when he attempted to address the crowd after the game.
– Local stars entertained the crowd, including the city’s leader, but the day ended on a sour note.
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2. #InterMiamiVictoryHongKongXI
3. #DavidBeckhamBooingIncident
4. #MessiHamstringInjury
5. #MessiOpenTrainingSessionHongKong
6. #GEMGarethTMirrorPerformanceHongKong
7. #SCMPJournalismSupport
