Lionel Messi fiasco dubbed ‘diplomatic crisis’, worse than crypto scam as Hong Kong moves through stages of social media grief
- Messi lampooned and lambasted as city absorbs the impact of Inter Miami’s calamitous three-day visit
- Facebook and X users prove rather livelier than Messi had been at the match as they rip into the Argentina star over his no-show
From Lionel Messi’s portrayal as a national security threat to fans suggesting his no-show was a bigger scam than JPEX crypto, there was hyperbole and sarcasm on social media as Hongkongers tried to put Inter Miami’s visit into perspective.
With the US club moving on to Tokyo, the flak continued to fly in their previous port of call, while some tried to raise a smile about the sorry affair.
On Sunday, Messi had warmed the bench for 90 minutes and then refused to address the crowd following Inter Miami’s 4-1 win in an exhibition game against a Hong Kong select.
That was the crescendo of a calamitous weekend that included Messi and the rest of the Inter Miami squad walking away from a welcoming ceremony on Friday, and cutting short an open training session on Saturday.
One fan became an internet meme when he was interviewed by local TV news saying Messi’s failure to even put on a pair of football boots on Sunday was a bigger scam than the JPEX crypto scandal that gripped the city in 2023.
The JPEX cryptocurrency platform was at the centre of a HK$1.57 billion (US$201 million) financial scandal involving thousands of victims that saw 28 people arrested, with the ringleaders still at large.
“Dude just got off the plane half-asleep, put on a stretching show then just sat there,” one fan commented. “They should have just cancelled the match and turned the stadium into a giant fan meet and greet.”
One fan countered that argument with: “Now now, the fans got to breathe the same air as one of the GOATs. Surely they got their money’s worth?”
Another used a picture of Hong Kong’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu – who was snubbed by Messi at the trophy presentation following the game – to suggest the Argentinian had breached the national security law.
Other fans joked that such a charge did insufficient justice to the offence caused in the city. A Facebook comment said Hong Kong should declare war on Argentina.
A photo showing a Chinese football fan holding a Portugal flag – indicating a preference for Messi’s old rival Cristiano Ronaldo – and giving the middle finger in Messi’s direction was liked over 5,000 times on Facebook.
And plenty enjoyed a chance to say the whole saga showed the superiority of Ronaldo, who apologised when injury prevented him playing in China a few days earlier.
Also doing the rounds was a spoof heat map – a diagram of a footballer’s movement during a match – showing Messi’s contribution to Sunday’s game, marked by a single position outside the pitch.
The decision of the event’s organiser, Tatler Asia, to forgo a HK$16 million government grant triggered further comment online.
“Well, maybe the record gate receipts of HK$132 million will cushion whatever is forgone,” a user commented.
Another comment summed up the furore: “Amazing how a tight hamstring can cause a diplomatic crisis.”
