Lionel Messi's Instagram Following and Apology: Insights into His Clubs and Challenges

Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine footballer, has a massive following on Instagram, with a staggering 499 million fans. However, he only follows a select few accounts, including six football clubs. These clubs include his current team, Inter Miami, as well as his former club, Barcelona. Additionally, Messi follows his childhood team, Newell's Old Boys, and a local club in his hometown called La Bajada 10. Surprisingly, he does not follow Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the club he recently left after spending two years with them.

In an interview with ESPN, Messi hinted at the reason for not following PSG, stating that his time in France was challenging. He expressed his desire to enjoy the game once more, as he had throughout his entire career, after facing difficulties during his tenure with PSG. On the other hand, Messi has found happiness in the United States with Inter Miami, where he enjoys not only the results on the pitch but also the everyday life with his family.

Lionel Messi has recently issued an apology for his absence during Inter Miami's World Tour friendly with Hong Kong XI. Despite the fans' anticipation to watch him play, Messi did not make a substitute appearance, leading to significant backlash. Fans criticized both the club and the player for his absence, especially considering that Messi claimed to be injured but played in Japan just three days later.

The Chinese government also reacted to Messi's absence, promptly canceling Argentina's friendlies against Nigeria and Ivory Coast, which were scheduled for March. In response, Messi released a video on the Chinese social media site Weibo, expressing his apologies and acknowledging his close relationship with China. The video has received a generally positive response, accumulating over 200,000 likes within an hour of its posting.