‘I’m not mad, just disappointed’

Star soccer player Lionel Messi being a no-show for Wednesday’s night’s Chicago Fire game wasn’t a deal breaker for Miguel Hernandez, despite paying more than four times the ticket price as a surprise birthday present for his son.

With waves of people wearing pink and black shirts with Messi’s name scattered throughout Soldier Field, the Bolingbrook dad said he was excited to be at the stadium for the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Messi, even on the bench.” Hernandez and his 12-year son, Noe, are both soccer fanatics; Hernandez is a coach for a suburban youth league, and his son plays in the league.

Unfortunately for father and son, Messi didn’t show up at all.

The star Argentine soccer player did not make it to the field for the anticipated match of the Inter Miami FC vs the Fire.

“I’m not mad, just disappointed,” said Miguel Hernandez. “If you’re mad that he (Messi) is not playing, it means that you don’t understand the game.”

For Riazuddin…