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Inter Miami's forward Lionel Messi of Argentina arrives at a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, February 6, 2024. Inter Miami will face J-League Vissel Kobe for a friendly soccer match on February 7. Franck Robichon, EPA-EFE.

epa11130195 Inter Miami's forward Lionel Messi of Argentina attends a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, 06 February 2024. Inter Miami will face J-League Vissel Kobe for a friendly soccer match on 07 February.  EPA-EFE/FRANCK ROBICHON

Article (news)

Lionel Messi at Inter Miami press conference

Agence France-Presse

TOKYO, Japan  -- Lionel Messi said Tuesday his leg injury was &quot;getting better&quot; but the World Cup-winning captain could not guarantee he would be fit to play in Inter Miami&#x27;s pre-season friendly in Japan this week.Two days ago, furious fans in Hong Kong booed Messi and club co-owner David Beckham, shouting &quot;Refund&quot;, after the Argentina great failed to take the field for a sold-out friendly.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/4/messi-beckham-booed-after-superstar-sits-out-hk-friendly-2047">READ: Messi, Beckham booed after superstar sits out HK friendly</a></div>&quot;I don&#x27;t know if I can (play) or not but I feel a lot better and really want to do it,&quot; eight-time Ballon d&#x27;Or winner Messi told reporters ahead of their match against Japanese champions Vissel Kobe on Wednesday.&quot;This afternoon we&#x27;re going to practice, we&#x27;ll try again. I have a good feeling, compared to how I was.&quot;Excitement has been building for the friendly at Tokyo&#x27;s National Stadium, with Inter Miami&#x27;s pink colors adorning parts of the city&#x27;s trendy Shibuya district.Tickets for the Japan leg of the US Major League Soccer (MLS) club&#x27;s globe-trotting pre-season tour are costing between 10,000 yen ($68) and 200,000 yen ($1,346) with &quot;special experience&quot; packages priced even higher.A crowd of nearly 40,000 in Hong Kong who paid for similarly expensive tickets were involved in angry scenes, jeering and giving thumbs-down signs, after Messi stayed rooted to the bench during their 4-1 win against a local select XI.The Hong Kong government demanded an explanation from the match&#x27;s organizers.&quot;It was really bad luck that I couldn&#x27;t play in Hong Kong,&quot; Messi said.&quot;Unfortunately this happens in football, in any game it can happen that you can&#x27;t play,&quot; he added.&quot;I always want to participate, I want to play, especially in these games where we travel so far and people want to see our games. I hope we can return and play a game in Hong Kong.&quot;<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/5/messi-match-organizers-deeply-regret-no-show-cancel-funding-bid-2048">READ: Messi match organizers &#x27;deeply regret&#x27; no-show, cancel funding bid</a></div>The furor came after the 36-year-old Messi came on as a substitute six minutes from the end of Miami&#x27;s previous match in Saudi Arabia last Thursday.&quot;I played the minutes that I did to see how I felt,&quot; he explained. &quot;I later did a MRI scan and it turned out I had an oedema (swelling).&quot;Miami&#x27;s win in Hong Kong was their first in five pre-season matches. They drew 0-0 in El Salvador, lost to fellow MLS side FC Dallas and then twice to club sides in Saudi Arabia.They have one more friendly, at home to Argentina&#x27;s Newell&#x27;s Old Boys next week, before the new MLS season starts on February 21.<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Lionel Messi could not guarantee he would be fit to play in Inter Miami's pre-season friendly in Japan this week.

Lionel Messi could not guarantee he would be fit to play in Inter Miami's pre-season friendly in Japan this week.

Messi says leg 'getting better' but could miss Japan match

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Messi says leg 'getting better' but could miss Japan match

Agence France-Presse

Published Feb 06, 2024 04:36 PM PHT

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football

Major League Soccer

MLS

Inter Miami

Lionel Messi

Hong Kong

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Vissel Kobe

Shibuya

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