Inter Miami’s pre-season game against Japanese side Vissel Kobe appeared in doubt after being completely removed from Apple TV’s MLS schedule. It was assumed that Lionel Messi‘s injury may have led to The Herons’ clash with Newell’s Old Boys being referred to as the last match of their preseason. But thankfully for fans of Japan, Inter Miami is going ahead with their friendly fixture.

Reports of the Argentine’s possible absence came as a disappointment to Japanese fans, who are expecting his presence on the pitch against Vissel Kobe of the J1 League on February 7. But, amid the skepticism about Messi’s fitness, Inter Miami has assured that they are going to see through the Japanese tour.

The Herons are having a torrid start to the year, failing to win their initial four pre-season games. After a humiliating blowout against Al Nassr, the club showed signs of grit, defeating Hong Kong XI 4-1 without their stars Luis Suarez and Messi. Nevertheless, the focus is on the game against Vissel Kobe, as announced by the club’s X (previously Twitter) handle recently. The club posted a tweet citing Japan as “next up,” while asking the fans to book their tickets for the match.

In Hong Kong, many were disappointed by Messi’s absence and asked for a refund. The chants in the second half went from ‘Messi, Messi, Messi’ to ‘Where is Messi?’ and finally into ‘Refund, refund’. In the final stages, the crowd booed each entering Miami substitute, including 17-year-old Tyler Hall as he made his first appearance for the team.

The final whistle was greeted with a chorus of boos. The post-game speech from Miami co-owner David Beckham was drowned out by the noise of the supporters’ displeasure. Notably, to satiate fans, the government asked for an explanation from the organizers.

Additionally, the tickets for the game against the Japanese team have not been sold out yet, with the club also placing a link for the tickets in the post. Earlier, the scheduling of the Japan trip was shrouded in uncertainty after Apple TV excluded the game from its MLS Season Pass lineup.

Vissel Kobe and Inter Miami will play at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday 7 February 2024, with kick-off scheduled for 5am ET/3am PT. The crowd inside the stadium will probably expect Inter Miami’s captain to take center stage. Despite, the eagerness of Japanese fans to see Messi, his appearance remains under doubt.

Lionel Messi’s injury: What’s the current situation?

Hampered by a lingering injury, Messi’s form has dipped, as evidenced by his limited playing time and underwhelming performances on the Asian tour. Concerns are mounting after his 7-minute cameo against Al Nassr and early substitution against Al Hilal, culminating in a complete no-show in the latest match.

Subsequently, news emerged about Messi’s hamstring problem, with coach Martino confirming the niggling injury, and apologizing to the fans in Hong Kong. Martino said, “Leo has an inflammation of the adductor, as we saw from the images of his muscles. We were expecting an improvement, but the situation has been there for many days.” Given Messi’s current predicament, it is possible that Martino won’t risk him in Vissel Kobe friendly as the new season draws closer.

READ MORE – “You Lied to All the Fans” – Inter Miami Blasted in Lionel Messi’s Absence After Big Win vs Hong Kong XI

Inter Miami kicks off its MLS season in just more than two weeks with its first game against Real Salt Lake on February 21st. But ahead of that, Messi will also be expected to show up against his childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, on February 15th.

WATCH THIS STORY: Jimmy Butler Approves $120,000,000 Richer ‘Friend’ Neymar Jr’s Multi-Million Saudi League Deal