Football superstar Lionel Messi’s visit to Hong Kong draws fans from across region

Kiratchapat Sirisareewattang, 17, said her family took a three-day trip to Hong Kong from Thailand to see the football star.

“My mother has followed Messi for ... years,” she said. “This is her first time seeing him.”

Sirisareewattang said, however, that her family — all decked in pink Inter Miami jerseys — would not stay for the match on Sunday as they had to catch a flight home.

Phaidon Dalakakis and Jonas Gantner, both 22, also travelled from Germany to Hong Kong for the first time to catch the 36-year-old Messi in Asia, which they said was a rare opportunity.

“It’s a huge opportunity since Messi is really old and might retire in some years,” the student said.

Having arrived on Thursday, Dalakakis said they would spend a week in the city with a budget of around €400 (US$434).

“We have seen the light show so far and walked through the old city streets and some malls,” Dalakakis added. “We want to see the historical part of the city.”

Among the fans were many mainland tourists who had arrived in the city in the morning, with some taking advantage of football events for a short getaway.

Social media posts featuring Messi, his teammates and club co-owner David Beckham were circulating on popular mainland platform Xiaohongshu, with photos and video footage showing the crowds inside the stadium on Saturday as well as the arrival of the team a day earlier at the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel where the club stayed.

Some mainland Chinese fans also shared posts of room tours at the hotel in Aberdeen which they booked just to be closer to the star.

Mario Zhang, 20, told the Post he left home in Shenzhen at 9am this morning for the training session.

“I’m here much earlier as the stadium opens at 2.30pm,” Zhang said. “The arrangement today is free seating, so I’ve got to hurry.”

The student arrived in Hong Kong with friends, bringing a camera and binoculars to catch a glimpse of Messi at the stadium.

Shenzhen-based Nokuphiwe Mthembu, 36, came to Hong Kong from the neighbouring Chinese city so that her 10-year-old son Luyanda Buthelezi could see Messi play.

“This is a great chance for travel,” Mthembu said. “This is fun. I’ve never been to a stadium before.”

The mother added that the game also offered her an opportunity to take advantage of Hong Kong’s airport.

“I will be flying to the Philippines tomorrow,” she added. “It’s more convenient than flying from Shenzhen.”

Hongkonger Jerry Ng, 30, said he left for the stadium at 2pm in hopes that he could meet the football star and get his autograph.

“I’ve brought two jerseys with me today,” Ng said. “Initially I wanted to bring four, but thought that might be a bit ambitious.”

The banker said he would frame the two jerseys, one from team Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory and another from a European tournament, if he managed to get them signed.

Police earlier warned Hongkongers not to travel to Causeway Bay, if they were not going for the game, because of the huge crowds expected. Spectators also appeared to have snubbed the force’s call to head to the stadium through Tin Hau station.

Inter Miami’s visit is among more than 80 major events announced by the government for the first half of the year. The events are part of a plan to boost the economy.

Local sportswear retailers reported a surge in business as customers snapped up Messi jerseys ahead of the weekend.

Some restaurants and hotels also said they expected more business from the visit of the Argentinian and his team to Hong Kong.