Lionel Messi is a big deal. That’s true in Argentina, it was true in Europe and it remains true in the United States. And with that comes the need for security. And one of Messi’s bodyguards has gone viral for, once again, doing his job very, very well. The incident occurred during Inter Miam’s 3-1 win over LAFC on Sunday (September 3) when a fan dressed in a Barcelona shirt managed to get onto the field and make a run for Messi.
This isn’t a new occurrence as fans have been known to get on the field on occasion. And Messi has become somewhat renowned for cordial interactions with fans, even in those circumstances.
This time, however, the fan didn’t get to hug the Argentinian or even interact with him, as Messi’s new bodyguard got there right away.
In the videos posted by fans, you can see his bodyguard sprinting towards Messi and getting ahold of the fan within seconds of him getting to the futboler.
Yassine Chueko, the man tasked with guarding Messi has been reported to be a former military. He is skilled in boxing and taekwondo and he has experience in mixed martial arts (MMA). The man, who Inter Miami hired as Messi’s personal bodyguard, reportedly makes around $3 million dollars a year to protect the Argentinian star. And, most importantly, when he thinks Messi is in danger, he can run faster than stadium security can.
Perhaps the fan only wanted to hug the World Champion. A week ago, two fans tackled Braves right fielder and MVP candidate Ronald Acuña. In both instances, the fans probably wanted to take pictures and interact with their favorite player. But the middle of a game is not the time or the place. And it’s hard to blame security for doing their job – even if, in normal circumstances, Lionel Messi might have just given the fan a hug and moved on.