After keeping fans guessing about his participation, Lionel Messi joined the game in the second half on February 7 and came close to scoring within 30 minutes against J-League side Vissel Kobe in Tokyo.
Messi entered the game as a substitute for the final half-hour, injecting energy into his teammates and creating the best chance of the match in the 80th minute with two point-blank shots, both saved by the Vissel Kobe defence.
Following a 0-0 draw in regulation time, the match went to penalty kicks, with Vissel winning the shootout 4-3. However, Messi did not take a penalty, drawing jeers from the crowd of 28,614 at Tokyo's National Stadium, which has a capacity of 68,000.
However, the level of booing in Tokyo was not as intense as that witnessed in Hong Kong, where Messi remained on the bench throughout the entire game due to a groin injury, prompting some fans to demand refunds.
Addressing the public relations debacle in a rare press conference in Tokyo on February 6, the Argentine star expressed contrition. Initially uncertain about his fitness for the Tokyo match, Messi's appearance on the field during the second half elicited loud cheers from the crowd.
Vissel had two close attempts hitting the post in the first half and dominated much of the match, creating the best chances.
The match in Tokyo marked the conclusion of Inter Miami's global promotional tour, spanning from El Salvador to Dallas, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and ending in Tokyo.
Inter Miami won just one out of the six games during their pre-season. The pre-season will conclude on February 16 in Florida with a match against Newell's Old Boys, Messi's childhood club from Rosario, Argentina. There are high expectations that he may end his career there.
Inter Miami boasts several former Barcelona players, including Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets.
Another former Barcelona star, Andres Iniesta, who played several seasons in Japan with Vissel Kobe, briefly addressed the crowd before the match.
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