By AFP 01 November 2023 | 4:40 pm Plans for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami to play two games in China this month have been called off, the club announced on Wednesday. Inter Miami said the tour’s promoter had informed the club of the cancellation, adding it was “due to unforeseen circumstances in China”, according to an online statement. The tour organiser confirmed the… Lionel Messi poses with the 2023 Ballon d’Or. Photo: Twitter/Ballon d’Or Plans for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami to play two games in China this month have been called off, the club announced on Wednesday. Inter Miami said the tour’s promoter had informed the club of the cancellation, adding it was “due to unforeseen circumstances in China”, according to an online statement. The tour organiser confirmed the news in a post on Chinese social media site Weibo, saying that it “deeply regretted” the announcement but without providing a reason for the decision. The team had originally been scheduled to play two Chinese Super League teams in friendly matches, first facing Qingdao Hainiu on Sunday and then Chengdu Rongcheng three days later. Recent World Cup champion Messi is wildly popular in China, where the men’s national team has performed poorly in recent years and the domestic league wrestles with corruption. Messi led the Argentinians to a 2-0 victory over Australia in an international friendly in June, to the delight of thousands of fans in the South American nation’s trademark blue-and-white striped jerseys. The 36-year-old football legend was awarded his eighth Ballon d’Or trophy in Paris on Monday, further boosting his lead over Cristiano Ronaldo — who has five — for the most in history. Messi’s arrival at Miami in July saw the club massively increase its global social media following, while on the field the team won its first trophy with a Leagues Cup triumph in August. Sport 2 hours ago Nigerian striker Akor Adams has been named French Ligue 1 club Montpellier’s Player of the Month for October. Montpellier announced Adams as the winner on their X handle on Wednesday. Adams emerged tops in a three-man shortlist for the individual award. Joris Chotard finished second while Mousa Tamari was third in the final standing. It… 3 hours ago Plans for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami to play two games in China this month have been called off, the club announced on Wednesday. Inter Miami said the tour’s promoter had informed the club of the cancellation, adding it was “due to unforeseen circumstances in China”, according to an online statement. The tour organiser confirmed the… 7 hours ago Nigerian striker Gift Orban has been nominated for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Young Player of the Year (Men) award scheduled for 11 December 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco. CAF on Wednesday revealed the list of nominees for the Young Player of the Year, an award for players under the age of 21 with Orban… 7 hours ago The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has listed Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, in the shortlists for the 2023 Africa Men’s Player of the Year award. Osimhen is in the running for the award alongside 29 other nominees who were unveiled on CAF’s X handle on Wednesday. Other top stars also nominated are… 16 hours ago The Premier Basketball League Management Committee (PBLMC) has chosen Abuja and Akure, Ondo State capital, as hosts of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) Premier Basketball League conference finals, which tips off from November 4 to 12. 16 hours ago Napoli celebrated Victor Osimhen’s eight place finish at the Ballon d’Or on Monday, which made him their player to make the top 10 of the rankings, reports football-italia.net. 16 hours ago Efe Ajagba’s World Boxing Council (WBC) title fight on Saturday against Australia’s Joe Goodal is the Nigerian’s biggest fight since he lost on unanimous decision to a tactically superior Frank Sanchez in 2021. 16 hours ago Super Falcons’ Captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, scored twice as Nigeria strolled to a 4-0 defeat of Ethiopia in the second leg of their second-round tie of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games African qualifying series. 16 hours ago Registration for the forthcoming MTN CHAMPS Ibadan, set to hold from November 9 and 11, has officially closed with over 2,000 athletes from 107 Schools and 32 junior teams registered for the competition. 1 day ago Nigeria’s Super Falcons defeated Ethiopia 4-0 in the second leg, second round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja. Rasheedat Ajibade scored two goals while Asisat Oshoala and Uchenna Kanu each scored a goal. The Falcons qualified 5-1 on aggregate after last week’s first leg in…
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