Football superstar Lionel Messi’s visit to Hong Kong draws fans from across region
- Causeway Bay shopping hub awash in pink as fans stream in to Hong Kong Stadium to watch open practice session
- “It’s a huge opportunity since Messi … might retire in some years,” says fan Phaidon Dalakakis
A much-anticipated visit by football superstar Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team has drawn tourists from mainland China and the region to Hong Kong for a glimpse of the legend in person.
The city’s Causeway Bay shopping hub, where Hong Kong Stadium is located, was awash in pink as fans streamed in for an open practice session on Saturday.
Fans draped in pinkish Inter Miami jerseys and the Argentina white-and-blue stripe jerseys started filing into the stadium as early as an hour before doors opened at 2.30pm, when police began to cordon off roads in the area to control the crowds.
The Argentinian World Cup winner and his Inter Miami team arrived in Hong Kong on Friday for the weekend friendly match with a local team, which authorities hoped would further raise the profile of the city.
Kiratchapat Sirisareewattang, 17, said her family, all decked out in Inter Miami jerseys, came from Thailand to see the football star.
“My mother has followed Messi for … years,” she said. “This is her first time seeing him.”
But they would not stay for the match on Sunday as they had to catch a flight home, she lamented.
Phaidon Dalakakis and Jonas Gantner, both 22, travelled from Germany to Hong Kong for the first time to catch the 36-year-old Messi in Asia, which they said was a rare opportunity.
“It’s a huge opportunity since Messi is really old and might retire in some years,” the student said.
Having arrived on Thursday, Dalakakis said they would spend a week in the city.
“We have seen the light show so far and walked through the old city streets and some malls,” Dalakakis added. “We want to see the historical part of the city.”
Among the fans were many mainland tourists who had arrived in the city in the morning. Social media posts featuring Messi, his teammates and club co-owner David Beckham were circulating on popular mainland platform Xiaohongshu, with photos and video footage showing the crowds inside the stadium on Saturday and the arrival of the team a day earlier at the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel where the club was staying.
Some mainland fans also shared posts of room tours at the hotel in Aberdeen which they booked just to be closer to the star.
Mario Zhang, 20, told the Post he left home in Shenzhen at 9am this morning for the training session.
“I’m here much earlier as the stadium opens at 2.30pm,” Zhang said. “The arrangement today is free seating, so I’ve got to hurry.”
The student arrived in Hong Kong with friends, bringing a camera and binoculars to catch a glimpse of Messi at the stadium.
Shenzhen-based Nokuphiwe Mthembu, 36, came to Hong Kong from the neighbouring city so that her 10-year-old son Luyanda Buthelezi could see Messi play.
“This is a great chance for travel,” Mthembu said. “This is fun. I’ve never been to a stadium before.”
The mother added that the game also offered her an opportunity to take advantage of Hong Kong’s airport to continue her trip.
“I will be flying to the Philippines tomorrow,” she added. “It’s more convenient than flying from Shenzhen.”
Hongkonger Jerry Ng, 30, said he left for the stadium at 2pm in hopes that he could meet the football star and get his autograph.
“I’ve brought two jerseys with me today,” Ng said. “Initially I wanted to bring four, but thought that might be a bit ambitious.”
The banker said he would frame the two jerseys, one from team Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory and another from a European tournament, if he managed to get them signed.
Police earlier warned Hongkongers not to travel to Causeway Bay if they were not going for the game, because of the huge crowds expected. Spectators also appeared to have snubbed the force’s call to head to the stadium through Tin Hau station.
Inter Miami’s visit is among more than 80 major events announced by the government for the first half of the year. The events are part of a plan to boost the economy.
Local sportswear retailers reported a surge in business as customers snapped up Messi jerseys ahead of the weekend.
Some restaurants and hotels also said they expected more business from the visit of the Argentinian and his team to Hong Kong.
