Louis Koo, a guest at Ronald Cheng's concert, cleverly alluded to Messi's absence, garnering praise for his keen observation. Both Louis Koo and Ronald Cheng subtly referenced Messi during the event, sparking lively discussions and laughter among attendees and online users. Louis Koo skillfully used the concert to humorously address Messi's no-show, enhancing the event's atmosphere with entertainment and engagement.
While some netizens and fans reacted positively to Louis' statement, there are others who expressed disagreement with his views.
Lionel Messi's absence from a match in Hong Kong occurred on February 4, 2024. The reason for his no-show was due to an injury, specifically "inflammation of an adductor" muscle. Netizens and fans present has noted that Messi was anti-social and didn't even raise his head or hand to say hi.
Lionel Messi's absence from a football match in Hong Kong, where he remained on the bench due to a groin injury, led to significant backlash and disappointment among fans. The organizer of the event, Tatler Asia, announced a 50% refund to ticket holders totaling $7.2 million.
Following backlash from fans and government officials regarding Messi's absence and subsequent participation in a match in Japan shortly after, criticism arose. Certain netizens and fans have suggested that Messi's energetic performance in Japan contradicted his earlier claims, leading to doubts about the veracity of his statements. The stark contrast in his demeanor between the two events was likened to night and day, with Japan symbolizing the day and China the night. Fans were further disappointed by Messi's delayed explanation for his initial absence.
Despite Messi's explanations citing injury, the incident sparked outrage in mainland China, leading to canceled friendly games between Argentina and Nigeria as well as Ivory Coast. Messi's attempt to clarify the situation through video statements aimed at Chinese fans sought to dispel rumors of political motives behind his absence. The fallout from this event has raised concerns about Messi's image in China and potential long-term consequences for his commercial partnerships in the region.