Topic
The latest stories and features on footballer Lionel Messi, including professional football news and updates.
China’s cancellation of the Argentine football team’s mainland tour may have more to do with new president Javier Milei than the star player.
Lionel Messi sitting out the Inter Miami vs Hong Kong exhibition game was because of an injury and not his fault, and the idea he should have addressed fans to explain the situation is misconceived.
While fans are understandably excited about the impending arrival of the football great, the Asian Cup campaign by the Hong Kong team deserves the city’s full support.
- But Consumer Council says those who bought tickets for February friendly match using e-payment systems may need to drop complaints to banks to collect cash
- Organiser Tatler earlier said 50 per cent refund available to customers if they dropped legal complaints, claims or payment reversal requests to official ticket seller Klook
The Swiss luxury brand recently auctioned 11 suitcases, each containing 11 MoonSwatch Moonshine Gold Hong Kong edition watches via Sotheby’s as part of its CSR efforts to support Orbis.
The world champions will play in Philadelphia and Los Angeles in March after a pair of friendlies in China were axed following the Lionel Messi fiasco in Hong Kong.
Kitchee’s former Manchester United player Charlie Scott also defends Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, saying, ‘It was not his fault, booing him was wrong.’
Review of the ‘M’ Mark system, set up to back big events, was ordered in wake of row after football star Lionel Messi no-show in city friendly match.
Amid speculation over where Argentina will now play in March, a video in which Lionel Messi cites his ‘special relationship with China’ prompts plenty to respond saying he is not welcome.
‘I’ve heard people say that I didn’t want to play for political reasons and many other reasons that are totally untrue,’ soccer player says in two-minute video posted on Weibo.
Days after sitting out the Hong Kong match, Lionel Messi starts Miami’s preseason game against Argentine team Newell’s Old Boys and plays for an hour.
Beijing Football Association says ‘no plans’ for Messi to play in China after Argentine national squad, captained by the star, scheduled two matches in country for March.
Hangzhou Sports Bureau said in a statement on Friday evening that the conditions for hosting the match were not mature given the ‘reasons that everyone knows’.
A sports injury specialist at an English Premier League club says nothing strange over Lionel Messi missing game, but leading health academic says severity should not have stopped Inter Miami star playing.
Players who faced Inter Miami and starred in Asian Cup beaten in Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup second leg in mainland China, then lose on penalties – but had to do it without some vital personnel.
Lionel Messi comes on as substitute in Miami’s game against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, but cannot prevent a penalty shoot-out defeat.
Government says Hongkongers deserve explanation after Messi plays 30 minutes in Tokyo, as it emerges organisers paid almost US$7 million for Argentina star and Inter Miami to visit Hong Kong.
Three days after their minor roles in the Inter Miami circus, several players feature in the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup, joined by Ellison Tsang despite him quitting the city for UK because local pay was ‘insufficient to continue playing here’.
Tickets are still available for Inter Miami’s friendly match on Wednesday against Japanese champions Vissel Kobe, while special packages can get you closer to Messi, at eye-watering prices.
Facebook and X users prove rather livelier than Lionel Messi had been at the match as they rip into the Argentina star over his no-show.
Will-he-won’t-he countdown begins on eve of Inter Miami’s match in Tokyo, as Lionel Messi speaks about the injury cited for his no-show in Hong Kong before being seen moving with ease during training.
Argentinian says it was ‘bad luck’ that he couldn’t play in Hong Kong, after he felt discomfort with thigh muscle following match in Saudi Arabia last week.
A piece of paper and a tweet leave David Beckham’s US club with questions to answer, after they depart Hong Kong leaving a trail of heartbreak and acrimony over the no-show of star player Lionel Messi.
Lawmaker Elizabeth Quat says events that leave fans disappointed risk reputational damage as well as public cash.
Inter Miami head to the next leg of their tour in Tokyo, but some in Hong Kong argue Lionel Messi should not play there either, out of fairness, while others tell Japanese to expect a scam.
Xinjiang man feels ‘cheated’ after travelling over 5,000km to see Lionel Messi play in Hong Kong, while online poll is held as blame game begins over Argentinian’s no-show.
After the Argentinian played no part in a much-hyped match in the city, the Post examines who knew what and when, and what took place behind the scenes as the saga unfolded.
But Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung says Tatler Asia’s decision to withdraw application for funding has not entirely resolved matter.
Home goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai says ‘not playing against Messi was disappointing’ after Argentinian sat out Inter Miami’s 4-1 win in Hong Kong, but city’s coach Jorn Andersen has other priorities.
Inter Miami coach acknowledges ‘a lot of disappointment’ over Messi and Luis Suarez not playing, saying it was ‘the decision of the medical team’ earlier in the day, after fans booed and chanted for refunds.
