Inter Miami's Lionel Messi played 30 minutes of a friendly match in Japan on Wednesday, days after his no-show in a similar match sparked fury in Hong Kong.
The Argentine superstar came in for the tail end of a goalless draw with Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, which his team lost 4-3 on penalties.
He started on the bench for the preseason game against the 2023 J. League top division champions, worrying the 28,614 spectators at National Stadium, who chanted "Messi, Messi" in sporadic attempts to coax out the 36-year-old.