Thousands of football fans roared in delight as Lionel Messi strode onto the pitch at the Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday evening, with local supporters mingling with visitors from the mainland and overseas, all desperate to get a glimpse of Inter Miami and one of the game's greatest ever players.

Anticipiation had been building from about 2pm as supporters, many of whom made their way to the SAR to see Messi, took their seats hours ahead of the open training session.

Ahead of the 5.30pm start, supporters were introduced to officials and dignitaries, including the Inter Miami co-owner and former England captain David Beckham.

There were a few nervous moments when Miami's first group of players took the pitch without Messi, but supporters soon saw the familiar shape of the World Cup winning Argentinian captain making his way onto the pitch.

One fan from Shenzhen clutched a picture of Messi and the star's family as he waited for the action.

“I like Messi not only because of his excellent football techniques, but also his love for his family,” the supporter said. He was planning dinner in the SAR before returning home later on Saturday.

Another fan from Guizhou province said that the session would be the centrepiece of a seven-day holiday in Hong Kong. He also plans to visit Temple Street, Wong Tai Sin and Causeway Bay.

Messi managed just seven minutes of Inter Miami's game in Saudi Arabia in midweek and was reported to be struggling with a hamstring injury. But fans were confident he would be at training and feature in Sunday's fixture against a Hong Kong select eleven at the same venue.

Another local fan, meanwhile, said that he is hoping Messi does come today.

“I'm putting my best bets on it, if he does come, he will be right next to us," one local fan said. "Apart from that, we just need to see him training, just to get a glimpse because he is going to play the match tomorrow."