The Beijing Football Association clarified on Saturday that there are no plans to host matches involving Lionel Messi in the capital. Furthermore, a scheduled friendly match with the Argentina national soccer team in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, set for March, has been canceled due to “well-known reasons,” as confirmed by the Hangzhou Sports Bureau on Friday.
This development suggests that Messi is unlikely to make a short-term entry into the Chinese market. The cancellation of the match in Hangzhou follows Messi’s controversial absence in Hong Kong, where he failed to appear, contrasting with his energetic performance in a match in Japan three days later. This has led to rising disappointment and anger among Chinese fans and netizens, with observers cautioning a potential significant decline in Messi’s commercial value as the aftermath continues to unfold.
The Hangzhou Sports Bureau announced on Friday that a company had initiated commercial negotiations with the Argentina national soccer team for a friendly match in March. However, authorities revealed that conditions for holding the competition were not favorable, leading to the decision to cancel the match.
The Argentina national soccer team has not yet responded to the cancellation. In January, the team had announced on China’s social media platform Weibo that they would visit China in March. According to the initially released schedule, matches against Nigeria and Ivory Coast were planned in Hangzhou and Beijing, respectively.
An official from the Argentine Football Association confirmed awareness of the match suspension and mentioned they were exploring alternative venues for the match against Nigeria. It remains uncertain whether the Argentina national team will still play in Beijing without Messi.
Public backlash within China toward Messi has been considerable after his controversial no-show in Hong Kong, with his enthusiastic appearance in Japan three days later adding fuel to the criticism.
Messi’s absence has triggered criticism within the Hong Kong sports industry, with Pui Kwan Kay, president of the Hong Kong Football Association, accusing Messi of lacking “sports spirit and morality” and criticizing his demeanor as the “king of football.”
Tatler Asia, the organizer of the canceled friendly in Hong Kong, announced on Friday that it would offer a 50 percent refund to those who purchased tickets through “official channels,” with details about the refund process to be provided in March.
Industry observers have cautioned that Messi’s recent actions could lead to a decline in his commercial value in the Chinese market. Despite being one of the world’s most expensive soccer players and ranking second in Forbes 2023 List of the World’s Highest Paid Athletes, Messi’s cooperation with various Chinese companies for commercial endorsements, including Chishuihe, JT Express, and Mengniu, may face uncertainties.