VIDEO: The Lionel Messi effect! Hong Kong sells out 40,000 capacity stadium to watch Inter Miami training as fans rush to see Argentina superstar

Lionel Messi mania has firmly gripped Hong Kong as a 40,000 capacity stadium was sold out to watch Inter Miami's training session on Saturday.

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• Messi in Hong Kong to play friendly
• Fans pour in to watch him train
• Will be in action against Hong Kong XI

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentine superstar might not be at 100 per cent as he is believed to be carrying a hamstring injury, but the mad rush to catch a glimpse of him in training scaled new heights in East Asia. It was an open training session at the Hong Kong Stadium and it was chalk-a-block hours before Messi even stepped into the arena.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It was a crucial training session for Messi as Tata Martino had informed earlier that the condition of the 2022 World Cup winner would be assessed on Saturday.

  "We will determine how long he can play depending on what happens in training tomorrow. But he will most certainly be on the pitch," the coach said.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Hong Kong has completely decked itself up with massive billboards and LED screens to welcome Messi. Fans swarmed to the Inter Miami hotel in numbers, desperate for a glimpse, while road closures were placed to control the high volume of crowd on the streets. Tickets for the friendly were sold out within an hour of going on sale in December and it is going to be a packed house on Sunday.