Messi Under Fire on Chinese Social Media During PSG Pre-Season Friendly

Lionel Messi, the Argentine football star, found himself under fire on Chinese social media during a pre-season friendly match between his club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and local team Hong Kong-based Kitchee on July 30. Despite the game ending in a 1-1 draw, what seemed like a routine pre-season friendly match has triggered heated discussions among Chinese netizens.

Tensions began when Messi was substituted in the 60th minute of the match. A Chinese Weibo user complained, "Can this person stop appearing in trending topics?", referring to Messi's frequent mentions on Weibo. This user is not alone in expressing frustration with the player.

Some Chinese netizens have accused Messi of treating fans in China differently compared to other countries. One user shared an anecdote about how, during his time at FC Barcelona, Messi played nine minutes against Hong Kong and left the pitch immediately, versus staying an hour during a match against Japan and even giving his jersey away to a Japanese player. The post reads, "You can see how he differentiates between his treatment. I believe many people can see this."

Another Weibo user brought up the controversy surrounding Messi's signed images, stating, "Do you guys know how big the black material scandal is? Even with the signature censored, the image is too hot to handle and will be deleted from all platforms." The user refers to a past incident where a signed Messi photograph caused an uproar online, leading to platform moderators deleting it for being too sensitive.

Mixed reactions from Chinese football fans can be seen in the comments section of the match's Weibo post. One user wrote, "On and off the field, everyone loves our little captain. The pre-season is over, and now we're waiting for the official league. Watch the video of our little captain's treasure box on Weibo."

However, many users expressed dissatisfaction with Messi and the media's coverage of his involvement in the game. One user questioned, "Do you really need to consume nuclear waste? Are you trying to prove your existence?", referring to the attention given to Messi.

Some comments directly target Messi, with one user writing, "What kind of football king, what kind of sports without borders? It's all for profit! Messi Messi Messi, American dog, haha."

A particularly scathing comment criticized the media's handling of the situation, demanding, "The media is so biased. If the whole country doesn't like Messi, ban him immediately. Why is it so easy for Messi to play a game and immediately become the number one trending topic in our country? Is it because you have been kneeling for too long that you can't get up?" The user went on to suggest banning any news related to Messi in China.

A few users acknowledged the frustrations of Chinese football fans, with one writing, "Waves are indeed swords, and it's unfortunate that he's trending again." Another user lamented, "Can't we just not share information about him? Isn't that cheapening ourselves?"

The controversy over Messi's involvement in the friendly match with Kitchee is not the first of its kind. In the past, Chinese netizens have accused the media of over-covering foreign sports stars and foregoing homegrown talent in favor of international superstars like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the meantime, Messi's club, PSG, finished their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls, concluding their seven-match pre-season tour with one win, two draws, and four losses. The only match PSG won during their pre-season tour was against Hong Kong, a game that Messi did not participate in due to injury.

Despite the criticism, Messi's presence in Chinese social media discussions reflects his global popularity and influence. His ability to command attention and stir up discussions, even in the face of controversy, solidifies his status as one of the most talked-about athletes in the world.

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