Messi's Abdominal Injury Sparks Controversy in Hong Kong Match

On February 19, Messi took to his social media to release a video addressing the issue, saying, "The real situation is that I have a muscle injury in my abdomen. I made an effort to train for the match in Hong Kong, but I was unable to participate." Dr. Zhou Minghui, a notable orthopedist in China, commented on Messi's condition, "He has a clear muscle strain, which should last about two weeks. For international footballers to fully recover from a muscle strain, at least one and a half months are needed".

Regarding the controversy surrounding his non-participation in the Hong Kong match, Messi explained, "I have a very close and special connection with China, and I hope to be able to see the Chinese fans again soon." The video was met with mixed reactions from Weibo users, with some supporting the footballer and others expressing disappointment in his decision to sit out the game.

One Weibo user, @央视体育, wrote, "We fully understand Messi's physical condition and the decision he made. We hope he can recover quickly, and we welcome him and Argentina's national football team to visit China again." Another user, @鱼博 international, added, "Messi is a top football player, and his health is of utmost importance. We hope he can recover soon and bring us more excellent performances on the pitch."

However, some Weibo users expressed disappointment and frustration with Messi's decision. One user, @铁饭碗好香, posted, "Messi should have fully explained his physical condition before the match, instead of just announcing his withdrawal at the last minute. This caused unnecessary confusion and anger among Chinese fans." Another user, @C