Tickets for the match had sold out quickly, with prices ranging from HK$880 ($112) to HK4,880. About 40,000 fans were at the stadium to watch the game.

Days before the match, Messi was reported to haveThe Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, meets the media Monday noon, on Tatler XFEST Hong Kong, Hong Kong Team vs Inter Miami CF, at the Central Government Offices. [Photo provided to China Daily] been injured and possibly unable to play out the whole 45 minutes of the required contracted time.

However, Inter Miami CF, Messi's team, on Sunday morning confirmed that Messi would show up.

However just before the game, the team said the eight-time ballon d'or winner would not be able to play owing to his injury.

Eventually, Messi sat on the bench for the whole game, even during the warm-up session. Messi played for seven minutes during his last friendly game in Saudi Arabia before arriving in Hong Kong.

In two strongly worded statements following the match, the Hong Kong SAR government expressed "extreme disappointment" over the no-show and criticized the organizer Tatler Asia and Inter Miami CF, warning of a penalty of a reduction of the total HK$16 million funding given to the event for violating the terms and conditions of the agreement.

According to the government's statement, this event was awarded "M" Mark status, as well as a matching grant of HK$15 million and a grant for venue of HK$1 million by The Major Sports Events Committee. A great deal of coordination and assistance were also provided by the government, including venue arrangement and crowd management.

"The way that the organizer and Inter Miami CF handled the situation could not meet the expectations of the fans who showed strong support to Messi, especially those visitors who came all the way here for the match," the second statement read, noting a lot of tourists came to the city particularly to watch the match.

Organizer Tatler in its official statement that they had not been informed that Messi would not play, and said that they are equally disappointed.