How Chinese Fans Turned Against Lionel Messi Over a Soccer Game

Lionel Messi is one of the most famous and admired soccer players in the world. He has won many awards and trophies for his skills and achievements on the field. He plays for Inter Miami, a team based in Florida, USA, and also for his home country, Argentina.
But recently, Messi faced a lot of anger and criticism from some Chinese fans who felt betrayed and disappointed by him. What did he do to upset them? And what does it have to do with the Falklands, a group of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean?

The Hong Kong Exhibition Match

It all started on February 4, 2024, when Inter Miami played a friendly match against Kitchee, a local team from Hong Kong. The match was part of a tour that Inter Miami was doing in Asia to promote their brand and attract more fans.
Many people in Hong Kong were excited to see Messi play, as he is one of the biggest stars in soccer. They bought tickets that cost up to $125 to watch the game at the Hong Kong Stadium, which has a capacity of 40,000.
However, they were in for a big disappointment. Messi did not play at all in the match, even though he was on the bench. He said he had a hamstring injury that prevented him from playing. He also did not join his teammates in greeting the Hong Kong chief executive, John Lee, who came to the stadium to welcome them. He walked away with his hands in his pockets, ignoring Lee.
The fans felt cheated and angry. They booed Messi and his team throughout the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw. They also expressed their frustration on social media, calling Messi a liar, a thief, and a coward.

The Japan Controversy

But the fans’ anger did not stop there. Three days later, on February 7, Inter Miami played another friendly match against Vissel Kobe, a Japanese team, in Tokyo. To the surprise and shock of many, Messi played in the second half of the match, scoring a goal and assisting another.
The fans in Hong Kong felt even more betrayed and insulted. They wondered how Messi could recover from his injury so quickly and play in Japan, but not in Hong Kong. They accused him of disrespecting them and favoring Japan over Hong Kong.
They also brought up the historical and political tensions between China and Japan, and between China and Argentina. They reminded Messi that Japan was China’s enemy in World War II, and that Argentina had fought against Britain over the Falklands, which China supports as part of the UK.
The Falklands are a group of islands that are claimed by both Britain and Argentina. In 1982, Argentina invaded the islands, but was defeated by Britain in a war that lasted two months and killed hundreds of people. The dispute over the islands is still unresolved, and both countries consider them as their own.
The fans in Hong Kong taunted Messi over the Falklands, saying that they belong to Britain, not Argentina. They also said that Messi was a thief who stole his awards and achievements from other players. They used hashtags like #FalklandsAreBritish and #MessiIsAThief to mock him online.

The Reaction from Messi and Others

Messi did not respond directly to the fans’ attacks, but he did post a message on his Instagram account, saying that he was happy to be back on the field and that he loved playing soccer. He also thanked his fans for their support and said that he hoped to see them soon.
Some of his teammates and colleagues defended him, saying that he was a professional and a gentleman, and that he did not deserve the abuse. They also said that he had a genuine injury and that he played in Japan only because he felt better and wanted to help his team.
Some of the fans in Hong Kong also apologized to Messi, saying that they were too emotional and impulsive, and that they respected him as a player and a person. They said that they understood that he had no control over the schedule and the politics of the tour, and that he was just doing his job.
Some of the media outlets and commentators also criticized the fans who attacked Messi, saying that they were unreasonable and disrespectful. They said that Messi was a victim of a poorly planned and executed tour, and that he had nothing to do with the Falklands or the China-Japan relations. They also said that soccer should be a sport that brings people together, not a tool for spreading hatred and division.

The Conclusion

Lionel Messi is a soccer legend who has millions of fans around the world. He is known for his talent, his passion, and his humility. He is not a politician, a soldier, or a spy. He is a soccer player who loves the game and wants to share it with others.
But sometimes, soccer can become more than a game. It can become a symbol of identity, pride, and conflict. It can become a source of joy, but also of pain. It can become a way of expressing love, but also of showing hate.
Messi learned this the hard way when he visited Hong Kong and Japan. He faced a lot of anger and criticism from some fans who felt that he had let them down and betrayed them. He also faced a lot of support and admiration from other fans who appreciated him and respected him.
Messi did not choose to be in this situation. He did not want to hurt anyone or offend anyone. He just wanted to play soccer and have fun. He did not deserve the abuse or the praise. He deserved the respect and the gratitude.
He deserved to be treated as a human being, not as a hero or a villain. He deserved to be treated as Lionel Messi, the soccer player. Nothing more, nothing less.