China has cancelled friendly matches with the Argentine national team. The reason is Messi

Chinese football authorities have cancelled friendly matches with Argentina amid growing backlash over the fact that Lionel Messi, 36, did not play in the Inter Miami match in Hong Kong.

Ліонель Мессі, Getty Images

Argentina were due to play Nigeria in Hangzhou, China, next month before facing Ivory Coast in Beijing, but Messi's omission from the Hong Kong football stars' team on Sunday sparked widespread outrage among fans.

Organisers of the Hong Kong match said they would refund 50% of the ticket price after the Argentine did not take to the field due to injury, but played in Japan a few days later.