Large crowds flocked to Hong Kong to watch Lionel Messi train with David Beckham's Inter Miami. Following the closure of the surrounding streets, supporters gathered outside the Hong Kong Stadium in anticipation of seeing the legendary football player. Though he was still recovering from a hamstring injury, Messi joined teammates on the field for a short workout during the Major League Soccer team's open training session, to thunderous applause. After leading a coaching workshop for schools in Hong Kong, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner gave young players some skills instruction from David Beckham..

 

Fans, predominantly wearing blue-and-white-striped Argentina or pink Inter Miami shirts, expressed their excitement. 17-year-old Chinese student Li Weiyi, traveling from Shenzhen, shared the significance of witnessing Messi for the first time, stating, "He means a lot to me. He brought me to the football world, he made me love football."

 

Sally Liu, a 28-year-old student from Hong Kong, described Messi as "very skilful" and "enjoyable to watch play." She reflected on the limited opportunities to see him in the future, expressing that this might be her last chance.

 

On Friday, crowds gathered outside the team hotel, hoping for a glimpse of Messi. A traditional junk boat adorned with Messi's face sailed through the harbor in Inter Miami's pink colors. Tickets for Sunday's match sold out quickly, and sports retailers reported a surge in sales of Messi shirts.

 

Messi's presence in Hong Kong is part of Inter Miami's hectic pre-season tour, aiming to play six games in 19 days before the MLS season begins on February 21. Despite a 6-0 friendly defeat to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, the team, led by head coach Gerardo Martino, looks forward to Messi's increased participation. Martino expressed the aspiration for Messi to play as many minutes as possible, highlighting the team's desire for a win as they conclude their globe-trotting tour with a friendly against Vissel Kobe in Japan on Wednesday.