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Lionel Messi, the legendary football player, made an appearance during Inter Miami’s recent exhibition match against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo.
Despite injecting energy into his teammates and showing his skills on the field, Messi and his team faced defeat in a penalty shootout.
Messi’s Entrance and Performance
Messi, known for his exceptional talent and contributions to the sport, made a 30-minute appearance during the match against Vissel Kobe.
Coming off the bench in the second half, Messi immediately injected energy into his teammates, demonstrating his skills on the field.
He almost scored in the 80th minute with two close-range shots, but both were blocked by the Vissel Kobe defense.
Penalty Shootout and Crowd Reaction
Following a goalless draw in regulation time, the match was decided by a penalty shootout.
Unfortunately, Messi did not take a penalty, which led to jeers from the crowd of 28,614 at Tokyo’s National Stadium.
Although the reaction was not as severe as the booing witnessed in a previous match in Hong Kong, where Messi remained on the bench due to a groin injury, some fans expressed disappointment.
Messi’s Apology and Press Conference
In a rare press conference held in Tokyo, Messi expressed remorse over the public relations fiasco and the disappointment of the fans.
He had initially expressed uncertainty about his fitness for the match, keeping fans guessing until he began warming up in the second half.
The crowd responded with loud cheers, indicating their excitement to see Messi in action.
Inter Miami’s Global Promotional Tour
The fixture in Tokyo marked the conclusion of Inter Miami’s global promotional tour.
The team traveled to various locations, including El Salvador, Dallas, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, in an effort to expand their fan base.
However, despite their efforts, Inter Miami only managed to win one out of the six games during the tour.
Messi’s Future with Inter Miami
Inter Miami boasts a roster filled with former Barcelona players, including Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets.
However, as the team’s preseason concludes on February 16 in Florida against Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s childhood club, many anticipate that he will finish his career at Inter Miami.
Fans await to see the impact Messi will have on the team and the Major League Soccer.
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