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Lionel Messi pressured to explain on Chinese social media for Inter Miami's preseason PR disaster in Hong Kong

Lionel Messi made another conciliatory gesture to fans in Hong Kong and China’s mainland on Monday by releasing a video on social media to explain why he didn't play in an exhibition match this month and insisted that there were no political reasons behind his decision.

Messi disappointed fans in Hong Kong and the city's government after he remained on the bench during a match between Inter Miami and a local team on Feb. 4. Messi and Inter Miami said he had a groin injury, but the grievances have spread to China’s mainland after he played for 30 minutes in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe days later.

As criticism ramped up on Chinese social media, the sports bureau in Hangzhou canceled next month's friendly between Nigeria and World Cup champion Argentina, captained by Messi, in China for "the reasons known to all."

In a two-minute video posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Monday, Messi said he wanted to set the record straight.

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