HONG KONG (AP) — Lionel Messi stayed on the bench for the full 90 minutes on Sunday as Inter Miami defeated a Hong Kong XI 4-1 in the latest stop on the MLS team’s preseason Asian tour.
Messi played the final seven minutes of the losing effort but a tight hamstring kept the eight-time Ballon D’or winner on the sidelines in Hong Kong along with Uruguayan forward and former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez.
The fans who filled the same arena a day earlier at least saw the 2022 World Cup winner in an open training session along with Miami co-owner David Beckham.
Robert Taylor opened the scoring for Miami five minutes before the break with a curling shot from the corner of the area.
Miami finishes its Asian tour in Japan on Wednesday as it takes on Vissel Kobe.
Persons:
— Lionel Messi, Saudi Arabia’s, Messi, Ballon, Luis Suarez, David Beckham, Robert Taylor, Henri Anier, Jorn Andersen, Lawson Sunderland, Miami’s, Leonardo Campana, Ryan Sailor, ___
Organizations:
Inter Miami, Hong, MLS, Hong Kong, Miami, Saudi, Uruguayan
Locations:
HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Nassr, Riyadh, Barcelona, Japan, Kobe