WATCH: Lionel Messi stops bodyguard from pushing fan away to take selfie on the pitch during Inter Miami win
Lionel Messi stopped his bodyguard Yassine Chueko, allowing a pitch invader to take a selfie with him during Inter Miami's 3-1 MLS win over Philadelphia Union on Sunday (September 15). This gesture was lauded on the internet, with fans praising the Argentine's kindness along with his skills on the pitch.
Messi was sidelined for two months due to an ankle injury he picked up during the first half of the Copa America final against Colombia on July 14. After carrying on for another 30 minutes, he was replaced by Nicolas Gonzalez in the 66th minute.
The Argentine legend was clinical in his comeback match at the Chase Stadium, bagging two goals (26' and 30') and one assist (90'+8) to help the visitors win 3-1. Despite trailing 1-0 after a first-minute goal by Mikael Uhre, Messi's brace helped The Herons end the first half with 2-1 on the board. His stoppage-time assist to Luis Suarez finally made it 3-1 on the night for Inter Miami.
While the team was celebrating a goal, a fan hoodwinked the security measures and ran towards the 37-year-old. When stopped by Yassine Chueko, Lionel Messi asked his bodyguard to allow the pitch invader to take a selfie with him. Watch the video of the incident below:
Lionel Messi also reached 15 goals and 12 assists in 19 MLS games for Inter Miami after his brace on Sunday, becoming the fastest-ever to reach the milestone in the league. With the win against Philadelphia Union, Inter Miami are now 10 points clear at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference table. FC Cincinnati are second with 52 points.
"Words I will never forget" - When Yassine Chueko shared what Lionel Messi told him after his eighth Ballon d'Or win
Lionel Messi's bodyguard Yassine Chueko shared a heartwarming incident when the Argentine won his record eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023. Chueko recalled that the icon gave him the 'Ballon d'Or for the best bodyguard' during their flight back from the presentation ceremony.
Yassine Chueko said (via @TheEuropeanLad on X):
"Messi does not consider me only his bodyguard but also a friend. We talk, we laugh, and get to know our personalities together. He always invites me to lunch and treats me well. When he won the Ballon d’Or, we were on the plane and he told me, 'Yassine Carry the Ballon d’Or in your hand!' and I told him, 'Okay.' At first I thought he wanted me to carry it somewhere else."
“And then when I carried it, he said to his son and wife: 'The winner of the Ballon d'Or for the best bodyguard is Yassin.' It was a beautiful moment and words I will never forget from the best player in the world. I feel as if I am part of his family and I am trying hard to protect him not only from the physical side but also from the psychological side, because he trusts me a lot and depends on me and for my part I give all my focus to him. He is very humble," Chueko added.
Yassine Chueko is a former US Navy SEAL who was appointed as Lionel Messi's bodyguard when he joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023.