Inter Miami were previously scheduled to play two postseason matches in China, but it has now been announced that those matches have been cancelled.
The Miami-based club were prepared for their tour of China, but the plan had to be cancelled due to tour promoter NTN pulling out, following the death of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
Inter Miami ended the 2023 MLS regular season with a 1-0 defeat to Charlotte FC on October 21, 2023.
They failed to make it to the MLS playoffs, having finished 14th in the Eastern Conference, with the first 9 teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences selected to play in the playoffs.
Despite the arrival of Lionel Messi, they couldn’t muster enough wins that would take their season out of the dungeon which it was in, before the arrival of the Argentine.
Is Lionel Messi known in china?
Messi is a popular figure in China, with a large fanbase, who are dedicated followers of his craft.
His Chinese fanbase will be dampened that they will not be able to see him strut his stuff in their country, but they will be hoping that he can play in the country sooner than later.
Lionel Messi recently won the 2023 Ballon d’Or award, clinching the prestigious individual honor for the 8th time in his career.
Despite some section of the fans being disappointed that he took home the award, as they felt he was not deserving of it, his fanbase have continued to relish the moment.
Having had an outstanding outing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Messi became a leading favorite of the Ballon d’Or, and ultimately he won it in Paris on October 30, 2023.
Lionel Messi impacts at Inter Miami
The 36-year-old has been impactful since joining Inter Miami, with his influence being felt on and off the pitch.
The Herons following across the globe has astronomically increased since his arrival, with their social media accounts growing in leaps and bounds daily.
Ticket prices have also skyrocketed with fans paying outrageous amounts just to see the magician eschew his brilliance for Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi has scored 11 goals and provided 5 assists in 14 appearances for Inter Miami across all competitions.
Inter Miami are a club that were founded in 2018, and they are jointly owned by Jorge Mas and English great David Beckham.
Messi was also instrumental in helping the club win its first trophy, as they lifted the Leagues Cup on August 20, 2023, defeating Nashville SC 10-9 on penalties, after playing out a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Meanwhile, in 2017, Lionel Messi was linked with a move to China, as a club from the Super League tabled a mega contract for him.
He was reportedly offered the chance to earn about £134 million annually, with a weekly pay package of £2.4 million, but that move didn’t materialize.
