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Inter Miami's forward Lionel Messi (L) in action during a friendly soccer match between Inter Miami and Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, Japan, February 7, 2024. Franck Robichon, EPA-EFE.

Inter Miami's forward Lionel Messi (L) in action during a friendly soccer match between Inter Miami and Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, Japan, 07 February 2024.  EPA-EFE/FRANCK ROBICHON

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Inter Miami vs Vissel Kobe

Agence France-Presse

<p>TOKYO, Japan -- Inter Miami&#x27;s Lionel Messi played 30 minutes of a friendly match in Japan on Wednesday, days after his no-show in a similar match sparked fury in Hong Kong.</p><p>The Argentine superstar came in for the tail end of a goalless draw with Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, which his team lost 4-3 on penalties.</p><p>He started on the bench for the pre-season game against J-League side Kobe, worrying 28,614 spectators at the National Stadium, who chanted &quot;Messi, Messi&quot; in sporadic attempts to coax out the 36-year-old.</p><p>They began to sense their good fortune early in the second half, when the eight-time Ballon d&#x27;Or winner and other substitutes began warming up.</p><p>The moment came around the hour mark, when the World Cup-winning captain replaced David Ruiz, sending the crowd into a moment of roaring frenzy that was followed by passionate cheers at his every touch.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/020824_Lionel Messi_EPA.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Inter Miami&#x27;s forward Lionel Messi (L) in action during a friendly soccer match between Inter Miami and Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, Japan, February 7, 2024. <em>Franck Robichon, EPA-EFE.</em></span></span></span>In the 79th minute, he dribbled solo into the Kobe box and fired a close-range shot that was saved by goalkeeper Shota Arai.</div><p>After the game, Miami coach Gerardo Martino said the decision to use Messi was made Tuesday afternoon.</p><p>&quot;In the training yesterday afternoon, he said he was feeling good. We decided then that he would play for 30 minutes,&quot; Martino said.</p><p>That was good enough to please many fans who braved winter cold to attend the night game.</p><p>&quot;Absolutely extraordinary,&quot; said Hiroto Hori, 45, of the star. &quot;I witnessed the moment when a single player changed the direction of the game.&quot;</p><p>Others echoed the feeling.</p><p>&quot;It (the game) was quiet at the beginning, but Messi changed it totally,&quot; said Yuta Tanaka, 30.</p><p>Vissel had also showed promise, especially early in the match with former Japan international striker Yuya Osako hitting the post 15 minutes into the game.</p><p>A minute later, Osako struck the woodwork again.</p><p>Messi did not take a kick in the shootout, which Kobe won.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Hong Kong controversy -</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The game stood in sharp contrast with Sunday when Messi and the team&#x27;s co-owner David Beckham were booed by tens of thousands of fans in Hong Kong after the star did not play in a friendly, citing injury.</p><div><br/></div><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><div><br/></div><p>During a press event in Tokyo on Tuesday, Messi said his leg injury was improving but refused to say whether he would play in the Tokyo game.</p><p>Tickets for the Japan leg of the US Major League Soccer (MLS) club&#x27;s globe-trotting pre-season tour cost between 10,000 yen ($68) and 200,000 yen ($1,346) with &quot;special experience&quot; packages priced even higher.</p><p>On Sunday in Hong Kong, a crowd of nearly 40,000 who paid for similarly expensive tickets were involved in angry scenes after Messi stayed rooted to the bench during his side&#x27;s 4-1 win against a Hong Kong select XI.</p><p>The Hong Kong government demanded an explanation from the match&#x27;s organizers, who had sought public funding for the event.</p><div><br/></div><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"><strong>READ: Messi match organizers &#x27;deeply regret&#x27; no-show, cancel funding bid</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Miami 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.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Lionel Messi played 30 minutes of a friendly match in Japan on Wednesday, days after his no-show in a similar match sparked fury in Hong Kong.</p>

Lionel Messi played 30 minutes of a friendly match in Japan on Wednesday, days after his no-show in a similar match sparked fury in Hong Kong.

Messi wows Tokyo fans days after Hong Kong no-show

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Messi wows Tokyo fans days after Hong Kong no-show

Agence France-Presse

Published Feb 08, 2024 12:33 AM PHT

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football

Lionel Messi

Inter Miami

Japan

Tokyo

Vissel Kobe

Major League Soccer

Hong Kong

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