Lionel Messi was reportedly left frustrated by his Inter Miami teammates during their pre-season friendly against Hong Kong XI.
The Herons have now kicked off the East Asia leg of their mammoth worldwide tour, with Inter Miami landing in Hong Kong earlier this week having spent a few days in Saudi Arabia.
Having failed to win a single game yet this pre-season, Inter Miami finally ended up on the right side of a result with a 4-1 win against Hong Kong, who did cause the Florida franchise some problems.
Yet as reported by the South China Morning Post, Messi was visibly frustrated in the first half after Inter Miami wasted a chance, with the forward having ‘his head in his hands’.
Indeed, whilst Inter Miami came away with the win, it’s clear that a lot of problems still need to be ironed out ahead of the 2024 MLS season for Tata Martino’s side.
Yet given the firepower the Herons have in their ranks, Messi can’t be too annoyed with Inter Miami’s teammates given that the Argentine was on the bench for the majority of the match.
Inter Miami will take vital lessons from Hong Kong win
Inter Miami have finally secured their first win of pre-season, if even Messi himself was seemingly not impressed with the attacking play of his fellow teammates.
Yet the result still stands, the Herons have needed a win for some time and Martino managed to deliver, with Leonardo Campana the star of the show for Inter Miami.
Far from a perfect win nor a good performance, the Florida franchise will take some good lessons from this win in Hong Kong, with Vissel Kobe coming up next for Inter Miami in Japan.
And for Messi, the Argentine superstar must know he can’t be too mad with his teammates for their lack of quality finishing, given how legendary the forward is in that area of the field.