Why China turned on 'thuggish flamingo'

The video, posted on the website of the South China Morning Post, was simple and inflammatory in its headline: "Why Hong Kong Hates Messi."

There followed a monologue by the publication's managing editor in which he chastised Lionel Messi, the Argentinian World Cup winner and the prized asset of Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.

"All petulant in pink like some thuggish flamingo," Yonden Lhatoo said of Messi. 

For Messi, this is one of the more flattering descriptions during a bewildering period in which he has found himself at the centre of geopolitical, cultural and sporting tensions cutting across Hong Kong, China, the United States, Japan and Argentina.

Messi's Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham and construction billionaire Jorge Mas, embarked upon a lucrative pre-season tour across Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan. 

This was Messi's first tour since Inter Miami secured his services, in a deal that also lured in revenuesharing agreements with major brands Apple and Adidas.

Messi's appeal is huge, underlined by almost 500 million Instagram followers and more than eight million followers on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.

His presence on this tour ought to have turbocharged Inter Miami's global status, hitting key markets in the Middle East and Asia.