Messi shines & plays for 30 minutes as hosts hit post twice, Japan's side win the penalty shootouts.
Match Report
Inter Miami's disastrous pre-season tour has finally come to a fitting end after they were beaten on penalties by Japanese side Vissel Kobe and saw Sergio Busquets go off injured.
David Beckham's MLS franchise have travelled across the globe in recent weeks, playing two friendlies in Saudi Arabia and one each in both Hong Kong and Japan as they prepare for the new MLS season.
Beckham was roundly booed and fans were chanting 'refund' in Hong Kong on Sunday, however, after star man Lionel Messi didn't come off the bench throughout.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward had been suffering with a hamstring issue and only played for seven minutes against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr just days earlier.
After leaving fans guessing whether or not he would take to the pitch, Messi came on in the 60th minute in Tokyo.
Vissel Kobe won Wednesday's match 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 0-0 draw. Messi, a record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, did not take part in the shootout.
The silence at the Tokyo stadium was deafening at times during the mostly uninspiring match between the J-League champions and Inter Miami.
The crowd erupted in the loudest cheers of the night when Messi started to warm up shortly after halftime, and the Argentine World Cup winner's face was shown on the big screen.
Messi admitted before the game that he was ready to 'return home' and he was 'a little tired' from the travel.
'I'm a little tired from this whole tour, [I have] a desire to finish up the last game and to return home,' he said during a press conference.
Veteran midfielder Busquets may face a race against time to be fit for their season-opener though after he went off after just 25 minutes.
The Spaniard was on the receiving end of a nasty tackle that saw his opponent stamp on his ankle and follow through.
Before the game, Messi, Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba reunited with their former Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta.
The Spaniard - regarded as one of the best midfields to every play soccer - played for the Japanese club for five years after leaving the Nou Camp in 2018.
The five teammates stood for a picture together before Iniesta addressed the crowd ahead of kickoff.
Inter Miami are now heading home and play one more friendly - against Messi's boyhood club Newell's Old Boys - on February 15 before the MLS season starts.
They are hoping to improve on their performance from last season and reach the MLS playoffs. They play Real Salt Lake on the opening day of the season on February 21.
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Line-ups
Vissel Kobe XI: Osako, Gotoku, H. Yamaguchi, Takahiro Ogihara, Takuya Iwanami, Haruya Ide, Yuki Honda, Ryo Hatsuse, Jean Patric, Daiju Sasaki, Powell Obinna Obi
Subs: Shota Arai, Yosuke Ideguchi, Koya Yuruki, Taisei Miyashiro, Ryuho Kikuchi, Nanasei Iino, Shioki Takayama, Yuya Kuwasaki, Tatsunori Sakurai, Mitsuki Hidaka, Juzo Ura
Inter Miami CF XI: Suarez, Alba, Busquets, Robert Taylor, Yedlin, Gregore, Julian Gressel, Drake Callender, Noah Allen, David Ruíz, Tomás Avilés
Subs: Messi, Sergiy Kryvtsov, CJ dos Santos, Shanyder Borgelin, Campana, Lawson Sunderland, Israel Boatwright, Ryan Sailor, Cole Jensen, Tyler Hall, Yannick Bright
DennisFaMz
667
you cannot say Messi shines as the headline. messi's team didn't win the game...unfair
The_Truth
609
How on earth do you see this team winning Title?? After his arrival, Messi took this worst team in MLS to win a Silverware. That's just so underrated. They won against all the big teams in MLS to grab that trophy, and of course, Messi was the MVP. That's Messi's fate. Wherever he goes, he needs to carry the team.
BarcaChelArg
592
Some scenes are permanent with this man; regardless where he plays 😜😄
educatea
547
Here is the GIF, click: http://www.goalgif.xyz/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=53759616&language=en
ishti
518
You will not see such a headline for any other player where he had zero goals or assists and his team lost. He might win Ballon d'or 2024 for not letting his team concede a single goal.
Peaceking1234
462
Our Eternal Defense 💯🤝😂😂
Ineznik
393
Messi fans and excuses after the game
Footballlover170
247
To FIFA, inter Miami won the match because Messi won the World Cup😂
Ig_brarm
245
Messi shines after missing 1on1 chance against the GK😂 and lost the match
Peaceking1234
222
During those days when Ronaldo had International Trophies and Messi didn't : " You need International Trophies to be claimed G.O.A.T " so Ronaldo is the Goat😌 " Now Leo has every International Trophies including the Biggest Trophy in the GREATEST SPORT OF ALL TIME 😌: " Robbed " , " Rigged " , G.O.A.TS don't fight 😂 , " Arab Cup is now a Major Trophy even bigger than WC " 😭😭 Bunch of Funny Guys🐫💯😂😂😂
kemadknoz
187
biggest fraud in football yup does nothing when his team needs him . but fools call him the goat 😆
Butcenou
173
Biased stupid journalist, Messi inter Miami lost but u still try to uplift only his image but not his team. Anyway, u are all paid to do this shameful acts so it's no wonder
Footballlover170
169
Messi deserves to win the MOTM because he won the World Cup 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Adolfbaba
154
Saudi teams are done with Miami and they have handed over the Cain to Japanese teams... Next will be China.. 😂😂 A very long season waiting for Messi..
roubeopyz
136
how did messi shine in the game he loose😂😂
JPSTANCE
130
the fraud shines, when you are fraud you are fraud Messi
Covid-21
11
it shows class, it is something that differentiates you from the regular teammates you have. Ronaldo can't relate btw.
no need of class when you lose. winning is more important
Covid-21
10
they didn't win but he was unplayable, that's the difference between Messi and Ronaldo
what's the point of being unplayable and losing the game 🤣
Covid-21
9
you cannot say Messi shines as the headline. messi's team didn't win the game...unfair
vissel kobe hit post twice, won the match...yet messi shines😂😂