Lionel Messi’s bodyguard tackles pitch invader inches away from star

Lionel Messi’s bodyguard, Yassine Chueko, was lastly known as in motion when a pitch invader stormed the sphere final night time when Los Angeles FC hosted Inter Miami. An keen fan rushed in direction of the World Cup winner and was swiftly handled throughout the MLS tie on the BMO Stadium.

Chueko has caught the eye of followers since Messi’s transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami in July this yr. The bodyguard can typically be seen patrolling the touchlines when Messi is in motion along with his sole consideration centered on the World Cup winner.

And his diligence paid off when an over-enthusiastic fan ran onto the pitch throughout Inter Miami’s MLS conflict in opposition to Los Angeles FC. Miami had been 2-0 up on the time with a yellow card being awarded to Miami ahead Facundo Farias for a slipshod foul.

Farias was concerned earlier within the recreation when he scored the opening objective after simply 14 minutes. An extended ball from Tomas Aviles was fired by the defence, leading to Farias lunging on to the move to slip his shot throughout objective and into the underside nook.

Just 10 minutes into the second half, Messi and his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba despatched followers down reminiscence lane. Messi performed an ideal ball to separate the defence, permitting Alba to move the ball in.

Messi would then be concerned moments later, however by no fault of his personal. A younger fan sporting a Barcelona prime ran onto the pitch in an try to fulfill the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

The Argentine’s bodyguard was shortly alerted and intervened earlier than Messi might be reached. Chueko, taking his duties very significantly, grappled the fan and carried him off the sphere with assist from the stadium’s safety.

Despite the drama, Messi appeared undeterred by the incident and was capable of present an help simply minutes later. The 36-year-old capitalised on a mistake on the again earlier than taking part in in Leonardo Campana to fireplace the ball into the far publish.

LAFC grabbed a comfort objective by Ryan Hollingshead within the final minute but it surely proved too little, too late. Despite the house facet’s defeat, followers within the stadium, together with Prince Harry, Selena Gomez and Leonardo DiCaprio, sounded their appreciation for an additional Messi masterclass.

Inter Miami will hope to proceed their sturdy run of type once they face Sporting KC this Saturday, with LAFC in motion in opposition to Portland Timbers.