The limits of “football business” are sometimes reached. Affected in the adductors, Lionel Messi said, Tuesday February 6 in Tokyo, that he was not sure of being able to play the friendly match of Inter Miami against the Japanese club Vissel Kobe, which is part of a lucrative tour of Asia of the new club of the Argentinian star. This meeting is scheduled for Wednesday February 7, at 11 a.m. (French time), three days after another gala match, in Hong Kong, where the absence of the eight-time Ballon d’Or on the field aroused the anger of fans and of local government.
To prepare for the upcoming Major League Soccer season, which runs from February to December, Inter Miami, chaired by David Beckham, had four friendly matches on its schedule: two in Saudi Arabia, against Al-Hilal, the January 29 (4-3 defeat of Miami), then against Al-Nassr, February 1 (6-0 defeat), one in Hong Kong, Sunday February 4 (4-1 victory against Hong Kong League XI), and the last , Wednesday, in Tokyo. Lionel Messi, the main attraction of these matches, played against Al-Hilal but only played the last seven minutes of the match against Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s club. Officially injured in his hamstring, he therefore remained on the bench against the Hong Kong League XI.
His absence on the field provoked the anger of the more than 38,000 spectators, who had paid a minimum of 105 euros to see the 36-year-old world champion in action, in a match that was sportingly uninteresting, but was supposed to develop the international audience of Inter Miami. When Messi’s arrival was announced, tickets – up to 580 euros for this meeting – were sold out in less than an hour, according to the organizer. Tickets to attend training the day before also sold for between 70 euros and 92 euros.
David Beckham booed
In the stands on Sunday, “We want Messi” then “Pay it back!” » were heard until the final whistle. David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami, tried to thank the spectators, but his voice was drowned out by boos.
The controversy was such that even the Hong Kong government intervened, notably through its secretary of culture, sports and tourism. The latter threatened to withdraw part of the more than 1.8 million euros in public subsidies granted to the organizer of the event, the media specializing in luxury and lifestyle Tatler Asia, which had confirmed the participation of the eight-time Golden Ball.
Reporting muscular discomfort in his adductors, Lionel Messi blew hot and cold on Tuesday, February 6, during a press conference. “Today in the afternoon we are going to practice and I am going to try. My feelings are better,” he said, when asked about his appearance against Vissel Kobe, Japan’s 2023 champion team.
In addition to ticketing revenue, the sale of jerseys and equipment in the colors of clubs or national teams maximizes the juicy income from these international tours. According to the Argentine press, the Argentine Football Federation would have pocketed more than 5.6 million euros for two matches played on the Asian continent in June 2023, taking advantage of a real “messimania” after the victory of the Albiceleste in of the 2022 World Cup. Tickets were then sold at roughly the same prices, between 75 euros and 624 euros.