In a highly anticipated friendly match between Inter Miami and a local League XI in Hong Kong, Lionel Messi's absence from the field left his fans heartbroken and sparked outrage among spectators. The match, played in front of a sellout crowd, ended in a 4-1 victory for Inter Miami, but the disappointment caused by Messi's no-show overshadowed the result.

The Hong Kong government expressed its disappointment in the match organizers, Tatler Asia, and stated that they may face a reduction in funding from the Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC). The MSEC had initially granted 15 million Hong Kong dollars ($1.92 million) for the event, along with an additional 1 million Hong Kong dollar grant for the venue.

In a statement, the government demanded an explanation from the organizers about Messi's absence, echoing the collective disappointment of football fans. The MSEC also indicated that they would take follow-up actions, including the possibility of reducing the funding provided, as a result of Messi not playing.

The organizers, Tatler Asia, expressed their own disappointment, claiming they had expected both Messi and his former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez, to feature in the match. They asserted that they had no prior knowledge of Messi's non-participation, stating that he and Suarez were deemed unfit to play by their team's medical department.

Messi's popularity was clearly evident during his three-day visit to Hong Kong, with thousands of fans flocking to training sessions and chanting his name. A sellout crowd of 40,000 also gathered at Hong Kong Stadium to catch a glimpse of their idol during Saturday's training session, with many holding aloft copies of his iconic number 10 jersey.

The disappointment felt by fans was palpable, as many had eagerly awaited the opportunity to see Messi in person. Aasir Mubarak, a 16-year-old fan, expressed his excitement, stating that Messi had been his idol since day one. Gary Sheng, a 19-year-old student, shared his emotions, describing the experience of being in close proximity to the football legend as "beyond words."

The demand for tickets for this match had been overwhelming, with prices ranging from 880 to 4,880 Hong Kong dollars. Tickets sold out within an hour in December, indicating the immense anticipation surrounding Messi's first match in Hong Kong since 2014.

While disappointment lingers among Hong Kong fans, Messi and Inter Miami will continue their preseason tour in Tokyo. They are scheduled to play a friendly match against J-League champions Vissel Kobe on Wednesday before kicking off their Major League Soccer campaign against Real Salt Lake on February 21st.