Yassine Cheuko, the personal bodyguard of Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi, has revealed that he can no longer provide the same level of protection for the Argentine forward due to a ban imposed by Major League Soccer (MLS).
Cheuko, a former Navy SEAL, has been safeguarding Messi since the football icon’s move to the U.S. in 2023. Given Messi’s immense global stature, personal security was deemed essential upon his arrival in America.
Throughout MLS matches, Cheuko became a familiar sight, frequently intercepting pitch invaders eager to get close to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Many were tackled before reaching their target.
However, MLS has now restricted Cheuko’s role, barring him from entering the field and limiting his duties to behind-the-scenes protection.
“They don’t allow me to be on the field anymore,” he told House of Highlights.
Addressing security concerns, Cheuko highlighted the stark contrast between his experiences in Europe and the U.S.:
“I worked in Europe for seven years in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, and only six people invaded the pitch. Since arriving in the United States, in just 20 months, there have been 16 pitch invaders. There’s a huge problem here. I’m not the problem. Let me help Messi.”
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