- Messi’s move to Inter Miami has brought a spotlight to his greatness, along with the presence of his dedicated bodyguard, Yassine Chueko.
- Chueko, a former Navy SEAL and MMA fighter, ensures Messi’s safety during matches and around the clock, with a team of 50 also in place.
- Inter Miami and its director prioritize player security, implementing enhanced measures to protect stars like Messi amid increasing popularity.
Following Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami in the United States in the summer of 2023, a whole new audience now have eyes on the man widely regarded as the best footballer in history.
American sports fans who weren’t familiar with his majestic talents are now seeing it first-hand. Something else that hasn’t gone unnoticed about arguably the greatest player of all time since his move to Miami is his bodyguard, Yassine Chueko.
Various clips have gone viral on social media of Chueko following the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar around, with one particular video highlighting him pacing up and down the touchline during a game, tracing the movements of Messi.
All you have to do is watch an Inter Miami game, and you’ll see the figure at the side of the pitch, following Messi like a shadow. Whether it be during games or around the stadium, he’s always there watching over the legendary forward.
David Beckham’s Role in Chueko’s Arrival
Man Utd legend recommended bodyguard for Messi
The bodyguard was brought into the fold at Inter Miami by David Beckham once Messi joined the club, with his sole mission being to protect the former PSG man on match days. Whether it be walking from the team coach to the changing rooms, or strolling along the touchline, following Messi’s movements during a game, Chueko’s always within close distance of the Argentine, and clearly takes his job extremely seriously.
It makes sense, too, and it’s surprising more clubs haven’t followed a similar protocol in recent years, with pitch invaders seemingly popping up more and more frequently as the seasons go by.
You only have to look at the assault on Jack Grealish by a Birmingham City fan during his days at Aston Villa to realise how quickly a player can be attacked if someone invades the pitch, and Beckham isn’t willing to take that risk for Messi while he’s playing in Miami. So, we know why Chueko has been assigned to Messi, but who is he?
Yassine Chueko’s Background
From Navy SEAL to bodyguard
According to La Nacion, Messi’s new bodyguard used to be a United States Army soldier. He even served as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan and Iraq, reports claim. There’s no doubt Chueko can handle himself as the bodyguard has a background in Mixed Martial Arts, taking part in numerous fights. His Instagram account is the place to look when trying to see just how imposing a figure Chueko is.
Since becoming an internet hit due to his presence at the side of the pitch during Inter Miami games, many would be forgiven for assuming Chueko was the only man tasked with keeping the 2022 World Cup winner safe. However, there’s said to be a team of around 50 people employed specifically to keep an eye on the Argentinian footballer around the clock.
On one occasion, Chueko intercepted an attempted pitch invader but dealt with the situation admirably as he allowed the young fan who had entered the field to have a picture with his idol before escorting him back to the stands. He may be a big and scary-looking man, but it proved that he handles himself with class.
One example of him acting swiftly is in the following video. After following Messi’s movements along the touchline throughout the game, the bodyguard immediately rushes onto the pitch and to the star’s side, protecting him after the final whistle is blown.
How Much Messi’s Bodyguard Earns
Chueko is paid a tidy sum for protecting the GOAT
Per The Sun, the wage paid to Chueko is £198,000 ($250,000) per year. However, there are suggestions that this could be closer to £3 million when all’s said and done. With the job he’s doing, there was always a strong possibility he would be handed a very healthy paycheck, so it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see the actual figure being closer to the latter.
It’s not only from his bodyguard duties that Chueko is being handed lucrative deals, either, as he was offered a role as a Martial Arts Ambassador for My.Club. It is unconfirmed whether he will be taking that role on, but the offer is said to be worth around £40,000 ($50,000).
Messi Has Been a Huge Hit at Inter Miami
The Argentine guided his team to their first ever trophy
While you often see footballers taking their talents to the United States once they’re over the hill and ready to ride off into the sunset quietly, that doesn’t seem to be the case with Messi, who has taken the country by storm since his arrival at Inter Miami.
The forward was on fire after making the move, scoring 10 goals throughout his first seven competitive appearances. An incredible run in the Leagues Cup saw the 37-year-old leading his team to their first-ever trophy while becoming the top scorer in the tournament’s history.
Before Messi joined the club, Inter Miami were having a torrid time, having won just one of their previous 10 matches before he signed. After his arrival, though, they went on a winning run, with the attacker playing a significant role in their success.
| Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Statistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| MLS | 18 | 13 | 11 |
| Leagues Cup | 7 | 10 | 1 |
| US Open Cup | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Having finished second bottom in the Eastern Conference in his first season with the club, Inter Miami have had a much more fruitful 2024 campaign to date as they sit top of the table with a significant cushion above Cincinnati in second place.
Messi has continued his hot-streak in front of goal from the Leagues Cup success. The magician has netted 13 goals in his first 18 MLS outings while registering a further 11 assists. One thing is for certain as Messi looks to bring further success to the club, his new bodyguard will be there keeping an eye on him.
Inter Miami’s Director Jorge Mas on Messi’s Security
He stressed the importance of keeping players safe
While his arrival dominated headlines for Miami, Messi isn’t the only footballing great they’ve signed in recent times, with his former Barcelona teammates, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba also joining. With the arrival of the star players, more eyes are on the club than they’ve ever experienced. They’ve been thrust into a spotlight they weren’t used to, and the club’s director, Jorge Mas, was all too aware of the security risks that this might present going forward.
Speaking to the Miami Herald about the situation in June 2023, he said: “Security will obviously be enhanced. Players will be bussed in, going through a tunnel.” The security wouldn’t just be provided during games, though, with Mas adding:
“All of those security protocols are already prepared both for here and away. And it’s not only for our games. It’s going to be an everyday occurrence and something we witnessed, and I thought handled very well when (Messi) was here with Argentina before the World Cup.
“As you may recall, Argentina trained in Miami before they flew over to Doha. We had an opportunity to see some of the Messi mania at our doors on an everyday basis during practice. So, we’re very prepared. We’ve been getting ready for this.”
It makes sense that the club would prioritise the players and their security. We’ve already seen a fan invade the pitch during one of Messi’s first games for Miami, so it’s not hard to believe that similar situations may arise soon, so the decision to keep a bodyguard on hand nearby makes a lot of sense.
All statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt (Correct as of 25/07/2024).
