Lionel Messi's highly anticipated appearance in China this month has been cancelled. The latest development left fans and soccer enthusiasts in the lurch. Inter Miami had initially announced their plans for a two-match exhibition tour in China, with the games scheduled for November 5 and November 8. The tour would have marked Messi's eighth visit to China, drawing the potential for a massive crowd of over 100,000 spectators.
Inter Miami cited "unforeseen circumstances" as the reason for the tour's cancellation. The tour promoter, NSN, indicated that the decision was made out of respect for Chinese officials following the recent passing of Li Keqiang, a former high-ranking Chinese leader who held the position of the country's top economic official for a decade.
While TyC Sports, an Argentine network, reported the tour's cancellation on Monday, Inter Miami only officially confirmed the decision on Wednesday. In their statement, the club expressed its ambition to continue expanding its global presence and engage with fans worldwide, leaving the door open for future opportunities with NSN.
The cancelled tour faced logistical challenges, including issues with ticket sales in China and reports of potential match cancellations. It would have been Inter Miami's first international tour and could have served as a prelude to Messi's participation in two World Cup qualifying matches for Argentina later in the month.
Messi, who recently won his eighth Ballon d'Or award, returned to the U.S. after his victory and joined Inter Miami for a training session. Despite not making it to the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs, the team's continued training hints at the possibility of organising exhibition matches in the near future.
While Inter Miami has not disclosed plans for additional international tours, it's expected that more will follow, given Messi's immense global popularity. The soccer superstar is under contract with Inter Miami for the 2024 and 2025 MLS seasons, earning an annual salary between $50 million and $60 million.
Messi's connection to China remains strong, having played there as recently as June, shortly after his groundbreaking signing with Inter Miami. His ties to the country include winning Olympic gold at the Beijing Games in 2008. Together with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, Messi enjoys a significant following in Asia and has several endorsement deals in the region.
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