Lionel Messi recently took to one of China's largest social media platforms to address speculation surrounding his absence from a recent Inter Miami friendly match in Hong Kong. The Argentina forward faced backlash from Chinese state media, Hong Kong politicians, and fans after coming off the bench three days later in a friendly match in Tokyo.
Following the controversy, Hangzhou and Beijing have announced that they will not host Argentina games scheduled for March as the fallout continues. In an attempt to clarify the situation, Messi posted a video on Weibo to provide his side of the story.
In the video, Messi refuted claims that his absence was due to political reasons or any other untrue speculations. He emphasized his longstanding relationship with China, stating that he has visited the country numerous times throughout his career.
Messi, 36, reiterated that his absence from the Hong Kong match was due to an inflamed adductor, which he first felt during a game in Saudi Arabia. Despite attempting to play in the subsequent match, his condition worsened, leading to his decision not to participate in the Hong Kong fixture.
He explained that he made an effort to train the day before the Hong Kong game to show appreciation to fans who had come to watch. Subsequently, Messi played in the match in Tokyo to work on his fitness and prepare for upcoming games, as he needed to regain match sharpness.
The video message aimed to provide clarity and dispel any false narratives surrounding his absence, emphasizing his commitment to his career and the respect he holds for his Chinese fans and supporters.
