Lionel Messi made a 30-minute appearance for Inter Miami in their exhibition match in Tokyo on Wednesday, following his disappointing absence in Hong Kong. Despite his brief stint on the field, Messi's performance left some supporters wanting more.
Entering the match as a substitute for the final half-hour, Messi injected energy into his team and nearly scored in the 80th minute with two close-range shots, one saved by the goalkeeper and the other cleared off the line by the Vissel Kobe defense.
After a goalless draw in regulation time, the match went to a penalty shootout, which Vissel Kobe won 4-3. However, Messi did not take a penalty, leading to jeers from the crowd of 28,614 at Tokyo’s National Stadium.
In a rare press conference in Tokyo the day before, Messi addressed the public relations backlash following his absence in Hong Kong due to a groin injury. He expressed contrition and uncertainty about his fitness for the Tokyo match, drawing loud cheers from fans when he began warming up in the second half.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino confirmed that Messi was scheduled to play 30 minutes after feeling good in practice on Tuesday. Despite Messi's comfortable performance, Martino did not elaborate on why Messi did not participate in the penalty shootout.
The Hong Kong government intervened, questioning why Messi was able to play in Japan but not in Hong Kong. This added a political and commercial dimension to the largely promotional match, given the significance of the Chinese market and the regional rivalry with Japan.
Vissel Kobe dominated much of the match, hitting the post twice in the first half and creating the best scoring opportunities. The Tokyo match concluded Inter Miami's global promotional tour, with mixed results in six games across various locations.
Inter Miami's preseason concludes on Feb. 16 against Newell’s Old Boys in Florida, with many speculating about Messi's future with his boyhood club from Argentina. The team boasts former Barcelona players like Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, while Andres Iniesta, another former Barcelona star, addressed the crowd before the match, having played for Vissel Kobe in Japan.
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