In a hilarious and unexpected turn of events, Lionel Messi’s famous bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko, was momentarily “defeated” by a pitch invader during Inter Miami’s preseason match against San Miguelito in Panama.
Known for his unshakeable presence and quick reflexes, Cheuko, a former MMA fighter, has gained viral fame for stopping countless fans from reaching Messi since the Argentine star's arrival at the club in 2023. But this time, it was a slip that gave a fan the rare chance to briefly interact with Messi.
Viral: Pitch invader 'defeats' Lionel Messi's bodyguard
As usual, Cheuko was keeping a sharp eye on the field, tracking the fan who made a beeline for Messi. The pitch invader, who was clearly excited to meet the football legend, seemed to have some momentum running up to the Inter Miami captain — a momentum that was deemed too much for anyone to stop.
As the fan approached Messi, he lost his footing and slipped, accidentally knocking into Cheuko. In a rare moment, the bodyguard was knocked off balance, and the fan managed to get a few seconds with the No. 10 before Cheuko sprang back into position.
Someone finally defeated Messi’s bodyguard pic.twitter.com/qQzJX85I93
— Castro1021 (@Castro1021) February 3, 2025
The moment quickly went viral on social media, with fans poking fun at the rare fall from Cheuko. Though, as he escorted the fan off the field, Cheuko cracked a smile, showing that even he couldn't help but appreciate the funny sequence.
Since joining Inter Miami to personally protect Messi, Cheuko’s viral stints have become a regular feature on social media. Whether he's swiftly handling pitch invaders or positioning himself in Messi’s vicinity, Cheuko’s status as a social media star has grown—thanks to his unprecedented and viral dedication to keeping Messi safe, no matter what.
Lionel Messi’s bodyguard is always ready pic.twitter.com/SF9nQifgtq
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) February 5, 2025
And while the fan may have “defeated” Cheuko for a brief moment, it's clear that the bodyguard is still the real MVP when it comes to protecting one of the world’s greatest soccer players.
