Lionel Messi makes impactful cameo for Inter Miami in Japan

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi pleased Tokyo fans on Wednesday in a friendly match that ended in a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Vissel Kobe after the game ended goalless.

It came days after his absence on the pitch in a recent Hong Kong friendly had angered fans there.

He started on the bench in Inter Miami’s pre-season game against J-League side Kobe, worrying 28,614 spectators at Tokyo’s National Stadium, who chanted “Messi, Messi” in sporadic attempts to bring out the star.

The silence at the Tokyo stadium was deafening at times during the mostly uninspiring match between the J-League champions and th MLS side.