In a remarkable surge of enthusiasm, tickets for the upcoming Hong Kong friendly featuring football legend Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team were completely sold out within an hour of release. Nearly two million eager fans queued online to secure their spots for the highly anticipated match, scheduled to take place at the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium on February 4.
The ticketing app experienced an unprecedented rush, with football enthusiasts in the bustling city of 7.5 million facing a massive virtual queue on Friday morning. Ticket prices ranged from HK$880 to HK$4,880 ($110-$625), reflecting the immense demand for an opportunity to witness Messi in action.
Michel Lamuniere, Chairman, and CEO of Tatler Asia, one of the event organizers, expressed overwhelming delight at the fans’ response. Social media platforms buzzed with excitement as some users shared screenshots of the ticketing app displaying an error message due to “traffic overload.”
This friendly match marks Messi’s return to Hong Kong, with his last appearance in 2014 for a similar exhibition game. Co-owner of Inter Miami, David Beckham, who played in Hong Kong in 2003 during his Real Madrid days, expressed the club’s anticipation for playing in a “beautiful city with a great sports scene.”
In addition to Messi, Inter Miami’s lineup in Hong Kong will feature prominent players like Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. The opposing team, Hong Kong XI, will comprise players from the top division of the Chinese territory. The swift sell-out underscores the global appeal of Messi and the growing popularity of football in Hong Kong.
