Foot: Messi and Inter Miami “wanted to humiliate Hong Kong”, the Argentine star at the heart of a controversy in Asia

The Argentine soccer genius and his Inter Miami team sparked fans' fury when he remained on the sidelines during a match against a Hong Kong team on Sunday, citing injury. Fans, who had paid more than 4,800 Hong Kong dollars ($500) to see Messi, chanted "Pay it back!", showed their fists with their thumbs down and mocked team co-owner David Beckham when he tried to thank the crowd.

But when on Wednesday, we saw him play 30 minutes of a friendly match in Japan, the indignation of the Chinese increased in force. The influential Global Times newspaper suggested that foreign forces had conspired to damage Hong Kong's reputation.

“One theory is that (Messi's) actions are politically motivated, as Hong Kong wanted to stimulate the economy through this event and external forces deliberately wanted to humiliate Hong Kong with this incident,” noted the nationalist media. “This hypothesis cannot be excluded.”

SEE ALSO - Paris SG wins 3-1 against Stade Brestois in the Coupe de France

The Hong Kong government demanded an explanation from the match organizers, who had sought public funding, saying it had been repeatedly assured Messi would play. The Argentine player lamented the “bad luck” of not being able to play, hoping to be able to return.

But Hong Kong government's top adviser Regina Ip said Lionel Messi should 'never be allowed to return'. “Hong Kong people hate Messi, Inter Miami and the dark hand behind them, for the deliberate and calculated snub inflicted on Hong Kong,” Ms Ip said on social network X. “His lies and hypocrisy are disgusting.”

In mainland China, Messi's absence on the pitch was at the top of conversations on digital platform Weibo all week. A post from the footballer expressing his regrets was flooded with mocking comments and memes. Some presented Messi as an imperial Japanese soldier, in reference to his supposed preference for Japan over China. “Messi is very rude and arrogant, which is really annoying,” one user wrote.