Overview

• Lionel Messi's failure to play in a Hong Kong preseason match with Inter Miami leads to a surge of anger and a diplomatic incident, sparking tensions across China, the United States, Argentina, Japan, and Hong Kong.
• Messi's non-appearance in the Hong Kong game, heavily promoted with his image, leaves fans feeling cheated and prompts a Hong Kong politician to call for him never to return.
• Chinese state-affiliated media suggest, without evidence, that Messi may have been acting under instructions from external forces aiming to undermine Hong Kong.
• Messi's subsequent participation in a friendly match in Japan, just days after the Hong Kong incident, intensifies the backlash and geopolitical tensions.
• Chinese sports authorities cancel two friendly matches that Messi's Argentina national team was slated to play in March, further escalating the situation.