Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) striker and former France national team player Karim Benzema commented on criticism of Inter Miami and Argentina forward and Ballon d'Or-2023 winner Lionel Messi.
French media outlet BeksFCB quotes the striker as saying:
Anyone who criticizes Messi understands nothing about football.
Recall that Inter Miami played a friendly match against Hong Kong XI on February 4 in Hong Kong, which ended with a score of 4-1. The 36-year-old star Argentine remained on the bench due to an injury. During the meeting, fans booed the Herons for the absence of the 2022 world champion, chanting "We want Messi" in the second half. More than 38 thousand visitors attended the game.
On the same day it became known that the government of Hong Kong demanded explanations for Messi's absence on the field from the management of the club from Florida. Head coach Gerardo Martino said that the Argentine did not participate in the match by the decision of doctors.
