Football superstar Lionel Messi has been criticised for promoting several apps and video games that are part of what Human Rights Watch has described as China’s network of censorship and surveillance

Messi earned ire from Chinese fans last month for missing a match in Hong Kong

Football icon Lionel Messi has been slammed for backing a Chinese firm accused of aiding regime spying.

The Inter Miami captain collaborated with Tencent, described by Human Rights Watch as “part of the Chinese government’s censorship and surveillance”.

The link emerged after the Argentinian forward, 36, faced a backlash from Chinese fans last month when he missed a friendly match in Hong Kong with his David Beckham-owned club.

In November 2022, Messi promoted PUBG Mobile, a video game by LightSpeed Studios, part of Tencent Games. And he earlier starred in TV ads for Tencent-owned social media site WeChat.

Human Rights Watch’s Maya Wang said: “WeChat [is] a virtual ecosystem that helps the Chinese government extend its repression, surveillance and censorship. Celebrities… need to do their due diligence to make sure their actions do not contribute to human rights abuses.”

Amnesty International UK’s Peter Frankental added: “By fronting ad campaigns for Tencent, Messi lends it and their products his star power, and risks giving them valuable credibility.”

Unsold Welding Machines In Mexico Might Almost Be Sold For Nothing!WELDING MACHINES|
SPONSORED LINKS BY TABOOLA

Cleaning Maids In Mexico Might Charge Less Than You Think!AFFORDABLE CLEANING MAID SERVICES | SEARCH ADS|
SPONSORED LINKS BY TABOOLA

Messi said he did not play in Hong Kong due to injury, denying talk of it being for “political reasons”.

Messi no longer has a relationship with Tencent as his PUBG deal ended after the 2022 World Cup. Tencent did not comment.

A representative for Messi was contacted for comment.

Hot news:

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi races ahead of Nashville SC midfielder Anibal Godoy during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Lionel Messi had a goal and an assist in his return to Inter Miami’s lineup Wednesday night, leading the way in a 3-1 win over Nashville in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 matchup.

Messi found his former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suárez , in stride for a goal that opened scoring in the eighth minute. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner then added a first-half goal to give Inter Miami an early 2-0 lead.

Inter Miami vs Nashville SC, CONCACAF Champions Cup: Final score and highlights from Round of 16 second leg

The Argentine superstar checked out of the match in the 50th minute. It wasn’t immediately clear why Messi subbed out — he had rested in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Montreal, which is the only game he has missed this season.

Messi was replaced by Robert Taylor, who scored in the 63rd minute to give Inter Miami a 3-0 lead.

Inter Miami advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals with the win and 5-3 advantage in aggregate goals in the total-goals series.

The teams had tied in the first leg in Nashville last Thursday. Messi scored in regulation, and Suárez scored the tying goal in stoppage time to rally Miami to a 2-2 draw. Messi went down late in regulation of that game when Nashville defender Lukas Macnaughton stepped on his left calf. A trainer checked on Messi, who remained on the pitch.

He had been listed as questionable with a shin injury entering Sunday’s game against Montreal, but head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said after that match that the plan was always to rest Messi for that game.

The rest seemed to bode well for Messi’s performance Wednesday, as he wasted no time making an impact.

He earned a free kick after a foul by Nashville’s Aníbal Godoy just four minutes into the match, but had his attempt blocked. The 36-year-old seized his opportunity a few minutes later, using his impressive vision to fit a pass to a streaking Suárez, who sent the ball into bottom right corner of the net.

Messi then used a pass from Diego Gómez to score from inside the penalty area as fans started chanting his name. Taylor later got on the board with a header off an assist by Suárez.

Nashville had a chance late in the second half when Hany Mukhtar got past Miami’s defense and sent a shot into the back of the net. Officials overturned the goal after a lengthy review, ruling that Mukhtar was offside.

Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender, coming off a disappointing performance against Montreal, had two saves before giving up a goal to Sam Surridge in stoppage time.

Wednesday was the fourth time that head coach Gary Smith’s Nashville club has faced Messi since he joined Inter Miami and MLS last summer.

They’d played to three draws before Wednesday — the first of which Miami won 10-9 on penalty kicks in the 2023 Leagues Cup final. Messi scored early in regulation and converted the first shot in penalty kicks as Miami won its first trophy.

“It’s a never-ending conundrum,” Smith said ahead of Wednesday’s match. “You try and set up a group to try and limit what he’s able to do. He’s proved throughout his career at the very best levels that no matter how good you are defensively, or how well-organized, the caliber of the individual will always find a way.”

Hot news:

One Piece Creator Ends Nearly Decade-Long Streak With Stunning New Artwork

Nearly a decade on, Eiichiro Oda delivers a stunning double-page spread worthy of a monumental reveal in One Piece Chapter 1110.

The Five Elders in their human forms in One Piece.

One Piece Chapter 1110 includes a monumental development in the "Egghead" story arc -- and an impressive two-page art spread by series creator Eiichiro Oda to go with it.

The latest chapter of the One Piece manga is now available in English on the Viz Media app, as well as the Manga Plus app. As shared by social media X (formerly Twitter) user @/OnePieceDefend, the latest installment in the "Egghead" storyline features a shocking revelation regarding The Five Elders, also known as the Gorosei. In a rare double-spread page, the power-hungry seniors reveal their true monstrous form to Monkey D. Luffy.

To illustrate how rare this illustrated technique has been used in One Piece, the last time Oda drew a double spread was nine years ago in Chapter 800 of the "Dressrosa" story arc (Sept. 19, 2015).

The "Singer of the New Era" will soon be available as a highly-detailed model in this stunning Uta figure based on the One Piece Film: Red anime film.

One Piece Chapter 1110 Reveals The Five Elders' Beast-Awakened Forms to Luffy

The beast-awakened forms of The Five Elders appear to be based on the Japanese folklore of spiritual creatures known as yokai. Saint Jaygarcia Saturn transforms into the spider-like bull creature known as the Gyuki (which also goes by the name of Ushi-oni).

Saint Marcus Mars can transform into an "eerie bird" called the Itsumade. Saint Topman Warcury becomes a Houki, a gigantic boar with four tusks. Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro is a skeleton horse called the Bakotsu. Last but not least, just in time for the release of Dune: Part Two, Shepherd Ju Peter can transform into a giant sandworm.

While it would be easy to assume that these supernatural transformations are the work of the Zoan-type Devil Fruit, the chapter doesn't confirm their suggested use by The Five Elders. That doesn't necessarily rule out The Five Elders possessing Zoan abilities, but it does open up the possibility that their yokai transformations are the work of something greater and far more dangerous than Gear 5 Luffy -- a fitting declaration of power for the hierarchy that's currently being presented as the final baddies of the One Piece series.

The life and times of Straw Hat chef Sanji are explored in the upcoming manga release of One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji by the creators of Food Wars!.

One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia Are Approaching Their End Games

The unveiling of The Five Elders' monster forms is an exciting but also painful reminder that the One Piece manga is sailing toward its final destination. Interestingly, One Piece isn't the only big Shonen Jump series preparing for its endgame. Jujutsu Kaisen, which recently celebrated its sixth anniversary, is expected to end in 2024. The recent chapter releases of My Hero Academia also indicate that the superhero series is reaching its inevitable conclusion.