Hong Kong football fans expressed their disappointment on Sunday as Lionel Messi stayed on the bench for the full 90 minutes while Inter Miami defeated a Hong Kong XI 4-1 in the latest stop on the MLS team's preseason Asian tour.

The Argentine has a hamstring strain and did not play as fans, who snapped up more than 38,000 tickets within an hour of them going on sale in December, could be heard booing in the late stages of the game and at the final whistle.

Even government got involved.

"Regarding Messi not playing the match today, the government, as well as all football fans, are extremely disappointed about the organisers' arrangement," a statement said.

"The organisers owe all football fans an explanation," the government said in a statement on Sunday.

Organisers Tatler XFEST Hong Kong later expressed their "extreme disappointment regarding Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez's non-participation [in the game] … We, alongside all football fans who attended that match, had been eagerly anticipating Messi's and Suárez's participation and share in the disappointment felt by everyone watching.

"Despite some news reports, Tatler did not have any information about the non-participation of Messi or Suárez prior to kick-off."

Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino defended the decision, saying that the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner, as well as former Barcelona colleague Suárez who also stayed on the bench, could not be risked.

Fans who filled the same arena a day earlier at least saw the 2022 World Cup winner in an open training session along with Miami co-owner David Beckham.

"We understand the disappointment of the fans for the absence of Leo [Messi] and Luis Suárez," Martino said.

"We wish we could have sent Leo and Luis on for at least a while but the risk was too big."