Lionel Messi back after injury ,Inter Miami crash to 3-4 defeat vs Vissel Kobe in friendly

Jephthah Nana Adjei Osei - Mensah
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Lionel Messi back after injury ,Inter Miami crash to 3-4 defeat vs Vissel Kobe in friendly
Messi
Written By : Leah De-Graft Takyi


Lionel Messi, the football sensation, made a highly anticipated comeback for Inter Miami in their friendly clash against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo. Following the disappointment in Hong Kong, where fans demanded refunds due to Messi's absence because of a groin injury, the Argentine star graced the Tokyo exhibition by playing the final 30 minutes. Despite a remarkable chance created by Messi and his teammates, Inter Miami faced defeat in a penalty shootout.

The Tokyo match served as Messi's opportunity to bounce back from the backlash in Hong Kong, where he faced criticism for not playing. Addressing the issue in a press conference, Messi expressed regret over the public relations debacle and initially remained uncertain about his fitness for the Tokyo game. However, the crowd erupted in cheers as Messi began warming up in the second half, indicating his readiness to take the field.

Inter Miami's coach, Gerardo Martino, confirmed that Messi felt fit after a practice session and willingly agreed to a 30-minute playtime. Despite his impactful performance, Messi abstained from participating in the penalty shootout. The situation took a political and commercial turn when the Hong Kong government questioned why Messi played in Japan but not in Hong Kong.

The Tokyo match marked the conclusion of Inter Miami's global promotional tour, featuring games in El Salvador, Dallas, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. The team secured only one victory out of the six matches played during the tour. The preseason is set to wrap up on February 16 in Florida against Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s childhood club, adding an emotional touch to the concluding event.

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