Lionel Messi effect: Inter Miami sells out Hong Kong Stadium for Saturday practice

safid deen, usa today

Sat, Feb 3, 2024, 8:45 PM·2 min read

Lionel Messi continues to be soccer’s biggest draw, while Inter Miami and MLS benefit from his worldwide celebrity.

Messi and Inter Miami held a practice in front of a sold-out crowd of 40,000 fans at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday as their worldwide preseason tour continues in China.

They expect another sell out for Sunday’s match between Inter Miami and Hong Kong XI at the venue.

“Amazing… a sold out stadium for our pre-season training session in Hong Kong,” Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham posted on Instagram.

“Thank you for all your incredible support and love, see you all tomorrow.”

An incredible welcome from a packed Hong Kong stadium as @TeamMessi enters the pitch for Open Training ahead of tomorrow’s #TatlerXFest match

Laureus is the proud Charity Partner of Tatler XFEST Hong Kong. #SportForGood pic.twitter.com/QILMLV1DAd
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) February 3, 2024

How to watch Messi, Inter Miami match in Hong Kong?

The match is set for a 3 a.m. ET start, and will broadcast by MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi leaves after a training for a friendly football match between Hong Kong Team and US Inter Miami CF at the Hong Kong Stadium in Hong Kong, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Messi, Inter Miami take center stage in Hong Kong

Messi walked onto the pitch and fans cheered loudly just seeing him kick a ball toward his Inter Miami teammates.

Messi and Inter Miami’s players interacted with children allowed to share the pitch during the training session.

One young fan even ran onto the pitch and bowed to greet Messi, before getting an autograph and escorted away by Inter Miami security guard Yassine Chueko.

Checking in from Hong Kong 👋 pic.twitter.com/T1xOwWfFIi
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 3, 2024

Messi is expected to play in Sunday’s preseason friendly despite injury discomfort he experienced in Saudi Arabia earlier this week.

“We want Leo [Messi] to play as much as possible,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said.

“We will evaluate the players. The hope is that Leo can play the most minutes. We will see in [Saturday’s] training, but it is likely he will play on Sunday.”