Messi's Fitness for Hong Kong Friendly

Lionel Messi should be able to take the field for Inter Miami's pre-season friendly in Hong Kong at the weekend despite an injury niggle, coach Gerardo Martino said, to the relief of thousands of football fans in the city.

The World Cup-winning Argentina star is carrying a hamstring injury and came on only for the last few minutes of a 6-0 friendly defeat to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Martino said he will assess Messi's fitness in training before deciding whether the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner will be able to start against a Hong Kong XI the next day, a match that sold out in minutes.

Messi's Miami side lost 4-3 against Saudi's Al Hilal in Riyadh after games against El Salvador and Dallas FC.

They will head to Japan for a match against Vissel Kobe to conclude a globe-trotting pre-season tour for the MLS side.

"We have to observe the physical situation of each of our players, but we have the expectation that Leo will play as much time as possible," said Martino ahead of the match at the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium.

The team, which also features former Liverpool and Barcelona star Luis Suarez, will take part in an open training session at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where thousands of Messi-shirted supporters are expected to turn up.

“I am very happy after many years of not playing together. To be able to share not only the pitch but also the day to day with him is very nice and to be able to enjoy this last stage that we have left as football players, to try to enjoy it as friends," Luis Suarez said.

Footballing icon Lionel Messi touches down at Hong Kong International Airport with teammates from Inter Miami for preseason matches in Asia.

The new MLS season in the United States begins on February 21.