Messi Hostage Situation 

Messi is like the character in a movie that accidently insults a foreign business person by mispronouncing a phrase he learned trying to be polite.

Can’t wait till this channel is renamed “The Athletic presents Zealandism”

“The Messi cinematic universe” 😂

The government of the great state of Nebraska Demands an apology. It is known to all about Zealand’s hatred and disdain for the Cornhusker state. The state of Nebraska is taking the following action if an apology is not given in due course. 1. Zealand is to be labeled Persona non grata and is to be stripped of any land, titles, and property within the state of Nebraska. 2. Any travel to or through the state is forbidden, never more will he get to witness the great city of Omaha, or the natural beauty of our many parks and nature areas such as the Sand Hills, Chimney Rock, and Carhenge. 3. Zealand is forbidden from ordering from the Cabela’s Catalog (shopping in person is still allowed as long as it is not in Nebraska) 4. Warren Buffet will no longer invest in ZealandCo. Once Zealand apologizes we will be happy, once again, to welcome him with open arms. Thank you and God Bless, Nebraska

The "We have better walls in America *table smack" bit made me laugh way harder than it should. Another amazing video Z

You'd be surprised how much Messi actually does pay attention to things that are said about him in social media. In multiple spanish interviews he's shown to know things that me, being an argentinian, didn't expect Messi to know because, well he is not a normal guy scrolling through TikTok. However, he does do that. Also could be his wife Antonella showing him things as well.

Well hostage and messi are not two words I expected in the same sentence

The thing with your videos is, that somewhere in the middle you always say something funny which makes me think "ouh, okay, i have to like this video for this sentence alone". Then i scroll down and realize, i already liked the video right when i clicked on it. And i'm not even joking, this is the 6th video in a row where this happens. I just love to hear you talk about these topics and im so glad that i discovered your FM Channel. You are actually also the reason i just got into FM a month ago since FIFA (or EAFC by now) just made me crazy with all the missing features about statistics and tactics.

The greatest hostage apology of all time

He's probably rocking back and forth because he is nervous. Messi always struck me as a nerdy and shy guy. In fact, I had a short conversation and had a piece of merchandise signed by him. Plus, I'm sure he does actually check his social media, but he might not be the one that always posts things, or maybe his posts are screened before they are posted.

I wonder, this sounds like the sort of thing a meet and greet with the fans, some selfies, and several autograph sessions could have solved, hand in hand with the announcement that he couldn't play but would be available in a special room for the followers to come and say "Hi". Otherwise, what other ways would have worked, in terms of damage limitation (which organizers should look into, IMO)

This is the first time I heard Messis Voice. Didnt know he could do that!

Not going to lie, when I saw this I genuinely thought we had a Luis Diaz dad situation, not a Chinese political scandal

I needed this type of content. Keep it up ! GOAT Zealand

The mention of Japan is key because of just how much the CCP uses their hate of Japan in their state propaganda. To them, Messi sitting out HK, then immediately playing in Tokyo a couple days later, is an opportunity to shift public frustration of those ticket prices into a “Messi hates China” incident. The club is stupid for not being super transparent about Messi’s injury and not having him briefly address the crowd. Just 5 minutes or so of how he’s sorry he wasn’t able to play, how much he loves China blah blah blah probably would’ve been enough. The people in charge of organizing the tour at Inter Miami come off as being very ignorant of global affairs for not realizing this would be a problem and they even had a chance to kinda fix things by having him also sit out the Japan game but they missed that as well. Really stupid on management’s part and it sucks that Messi has to apologize even though he did nothing wrong.

Just as this comes out, it was announced that Tuchel is leaving Bayern in the summer.

Thanks for making a video on this Zealand I will admit, our fanbase overreacted quite a bit. However, I can understand why. For most of us, our actual problem with Messi is how a) his injury wasn’t announced beforehand (Though that’s mostly on the club) and b) he basically ignored the fans when he didn’t play. Had he just come out and addressed the crowd like you mentioned, potentially stopped to sign a few autographs or take some photos, none of this would’ve happened. But instead he doesn’t do that and it’s never even addressed in his explanation video, which is primarily why our fans are still so pissed with him. Even though it probably won’t happen, I’m hoping Messi and China can reconcile.

ur goated

I just realized I had never heard Messi's voice before.

Funny enough, this is for Messi just a taste of what was the life of Pelé back in the 60s/70s... thr man was sent to WARS in west Africa for god sake.

Hey Z, im sorry to be the one to tell you this but I just got a call from Jared and he told me you're uninvited from the pool party at his uncle's house.

I was half expecting bro to ask his Singaporean audience if they were Chinese

In 2023, Argentina had friendlies against Australia in China that is sponsored by the government. Even the jersey name was all in chinese, so idk if this is related or not but my speculation is because China has always been spending money for Argentina (and Messi to an extent) and they felt humiliated by Messi not playing for them.

We always knew messi couldnt do it on a rainy night in stoke... now he can't even do it in Hong Kong lol

They have to write it in the contract. When we(romania) played argentina in a friendly we threatened the argentine federation with bankruptcy if messi doesn't play bc there were rumours that he was ill. Our federation thought argentina was bullshitting. So messi played 60 minutes i think(that was in the contract). We witnessed the GOAT throwing up on the pitch live because the rumours were indeed true, he was ill and argentina could neither afford to lose the money nor to pay the penalties written in the contract. All the props to the argentines. World class players forced to play and make money for an incompetent federation even when they are vomiting.

at least he really came to the country tho, unlike when Argentina were playing against Indonesia in a friendly where he didn't even come to Indonesia (I know it's a different thing in HK where he's playing for Inter Miami, but ig it's still technically the same thing)

Cristiano not playing causes mild Messi booes Messi not playing could cause an international WAR

Me as a Nigeria wondering how my nation somehow got dragged into this.

Don't apologise to Jared - he's a rat! Poor Cynthia never got over that.

Ayeeeeee, always appreciate a good, unexpected Nebraska shout-out 😅

I have a feeling the next time a big star gets injured when they're supposed to play in China, they will do exactly what you you suggest and make a speech, more likely BEFORE the game, apologising for being injured. No one else will want to go through this nonsense.

Next video -China, im sorry we have a special relationship- Zealand Shanon

These are images of Messi greeting the Jarada.

They could have just given him a mic at the halway pause so that he adresses and explains the situation himself. When he was in HK!

Messi having to tell an entire nation the witch really did turn him into a newt and he got better is hilarious.

The arrogance and entitlement of those people demanding refunds for an injured player not playing is by far more embarrassing than being snubbed. They can't ever save face from that petty behavior.

being from Nebraska, just want to say "Hey, it's not great... We'd probably have a Nebraska man meme, if anyone could find us half the time, unless we're in the news for something terrible." Great video though Zealand, dig all the face time and timely opinion updates, they're awesome.

Argentina played in St. Louis in 2016. I went. Messi got injured and didn’t play. Where is my apology?

“messi doesn’t put himself out there as an objectionable wealthy guy” spanish tax offices:

Rly enjoying zealandism

He’s made sure to keep his entire career out controversy, I hate that feels forced to post an apology video for something that is not his fault.. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I've never been to China, have been to Hong Kong though

Messi cinematic universe .... who is the Rock playing?

Is this a John Xena moment?

Argentina vs Brazil was meant to happen in Melbourne, bought tickets to fly all the way there, for a competitive wc qualifier and it got canceled. That should’ve been way more of an upset but you have to move on

You should start the rumor that actually, Beckham being the owner of Inter Miami and having strong ties to Qatar, kept Messi from playing in China because he wants to push the growing of Qatar into a football power over China. Letting him play in Japan just added to the insult :)

I thought it was a FIFA rule that a countries FA has to be completely separate from the government?

GIIIINA

A 14 year old girl named Cynthia who is dating a boy named Jared is probably freaking out right now

To be honest, I think nowadays messi know more about what people says of him in internet thanks to Aguero. He even knows and had conversations with ibai (twitch spanish streamer) he actually knows whats going on

Honestly, Inter Miami is the one at fault here. And yet it is Messi and the organisers who had to answer for it. Inter Miami not clarifying that they won't play Messi, who they were contractually obliged to play, is the unanswered mistake here.

I don't know if you really mean to say "1080p" because I don't see what's wrong with that

To be honest I don't believe that a statement after the match would have been sufficient to completely avoid everything, as for a good number of people in China the sentiment and disrespect would still be there, and they would have wanted him to sit out in Japan so as to be fair. In essence, he didn't defer to China and Chinese feelings while in Japan.

Chuck Fina!

i do wonder if the chinese media insisting that Messi is outright hated now is in any way related to the new president of Argentina being so confrontational against chinese communism. the cultural war is fought on all fronts, after all

15:32 time beals😂

Non related question, what ‘Z’ lights are they, because they look cool and I’d love to get some for my dorm room

The special relation he has with China is China give him a lot of money and he play's events there.

Hey man, what the hell.

Guess who's gonna be not too keen on China now.

Am I the only one that thinks that that video looks like it was generated by an AI?

Zealand you are my father

Someone give him his Apology D'or😭😭😭🦩🦩🦩🦩

Messi Runs a lot. Z doesn't it's time to change that.

I dont remember Messi apologizing to the spanish people for evading taxes in Spain.

Little bit of a clickbait title but it was good, only thing that would have helped was a timetable of when everything was happening as I couldn’t pay close attention being at work

I wish Messi play In Macau or buffalo ny

Really good point about China at the start lots of westerners can be xenophobic without even realising it

As a Hong Kong fans I am sorry that this shit happens. With the economic slump and China desperation to maintain Hong Kong " international status" (which is already dumped by China), the government are just desperate to have some big event happens here. I think for the government this trip is nothing but a political show, and Messi just want to kick some ball, which leads to this tragedy.

Wait what

John Cena learned The language from the WWE they paid for it. And if you wanted to go to college he would pay you for that too

“CHINAAAA” *trump voice* and I didn’t hear about this until you so I appreciate your content!!!

All your attempts of disclaiming that 'hey i've been there, it's not THAT bad, i had fun' - went out the window when you read that response the freaking government gave out to the media about a player not playing in a friendly football match and how explanations are needed

I dont give a F.

b r u h.

China issue. They can hate and blame Messi but their country won't breed or win world cup. For that they can cry and bawl. Even if Argentina do friendly with China, China gain more. Their loss.

Day 2 of every like on this comment being A chocolate turtle for him 💀💀🔥🔥

imagine messi is incredibly based and doesn’t like china

i love how China just proves stereotypes right.

As a Hongkonger myself, I just wanna say lol. The whole thing's uneccesarily complicated. They built up the game like never before, they charged the fans a fortune for the tickets, and Messi's out becaused of injury, of course people are gonna be furious (excluding me I'm not pay for that). But it gone catastrophicly ugly when the government say they're gonna cut the 15mill hkd budget, and just saying things like if Messi plays in Japan the government would be upset, and guess who's crying to father China for help lol.

Funny man, I love how off the cuff your jokes are. You aren't this funny on stream ;)

🇹🇼 > 🇨🇳

A few things were left out in the video: It's ok for Messi not play due to "injury". It's not reasonable for Messi to do what he did during the post game ceremony, didn't want to shake hands with local officials which all his teammates are doing, hands in the pocket walking past the whole ceremony. There should be video captured about this on the internet. No direct communication from Messi or his camp before or after the match. This is not related to CR7 vs Messi, but CR7 was in China a few weeks earlier, he suffered an injury so cannot play the friendly match either. There was a CR7 news conferences which he personally spoke to the fans about the situation and issued the full refund. It has less to do with "saving face", it has more to do mutual respect. We all understand these friendlies are held for profit. If you cannot delivery a good product for the money you collected, to your customer, let them know and let them know earlier. It should be common sense around the global. Don't pin this to the so called "China commercial system", what does that even mean?

Am I the only one that find it funny that he had in inflamed abductor... in China 👀👀 seems a little too convenient

ok but.. who cares about china? fo'real