Soccer
Why was Lionel Messi booed in Hong Kong? Fan anger at Inter Miami friendly explained
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Inter Miami's preseason world tour isn't going according to plan.
The MLS side that boasts a squad that includes Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will officially kick off their 2024 season later this month, but the team have embarked on a whirlwind tour ahead of the Feb. 21 season opener against Real Salt Lake.
Miami's gruelling exhibition schedule kicked off in El Salvador on Jan. 19, when the Herons played to a scoreless draw with the Central American nation. They then faced fellow MLS side FC Dallas in Texas in a losing effort on Jan. 22 before crossing the Atlantic Ocean for the Riyadh Season Cup and matches against Saudi outfits Al-Hilal (4-3 loss) and Al-Nassr (6-0 loss).
Three days after that humbling defeat to a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Al-Nassr, Miami suited up in another friendly, this time in Hong Kong as they faced a local XI. The vibes were great a day prior to the match, as upwards of 40,000 fans flocked to the stadium just to watch Miami train, but on Sunday things turned sour for the club.
Despite easing to a 4-1 victory — their first of the preseason — Miami were booed off the pitch as both Messi and Suarez watched the entire match from the bench.
A fan was even filmed kicking the head off a cardboard cut-out of Messi, ostensibly due to his absence from the pitch in the highly-anticipated friendly.
Reports state that even David Beckham, Miami's co-owner and the face of the four-year-old team, was a target for the Hong Kong crowd's ire.
With Inter Miami set to play one more friendly match — against Japanese side Vissel Kobe on Wednesday in Tokyo — before returning home to South Florida, could another round of boos be awaiting Messi and Co.?
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