The mystery of Messi's bodyguard and his dwindling presence at Inter Miami games

New York Times

01-04-2025

Ever since Lionel Messi touched down in Miami in 2023, he has brought along a collection of former teammates, like Barcelona legends Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. He also brought along another associate, one whose presence in the international media may have actually surpassed them all: Yassine Cheuko.
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Cheuko, who serves as Messi's personal bodyguard, became a fixture at Miami games and also became the subject of widespread speculation. Little was known about him, as he rarely, if ever, did interviews. The international press had a field day with Cheuko, erroneously claiming that he was a former Navy SEAL and writing that he'd been hand-selected by Inter Miami owner David Beckham.
None of this was true, but it did little to temper the public's curiosity about Cheuko, who remained a point of fascination. Viral videos circulated of him chasing down pitch invaders across MLS. On broadcasts of Miami matches, Cheuko would be clearly visible at field level as he patrolled the sidelines of the playing field, often in front of the ad boards and just inches away from the action.
In 2025, Cheuko's presence has been more muted. This week, he shed light on why: according to Cheuko himself, MLS has changed its policies, limiting the amount of access he has during matches.
'I was in Europe for seven years working for Ligue 1 and the Champions League, and only six people invaded the pitch,' Cheuko said in a video interview with House of Highlights, a social media channel. Clips of the interview have since been removed. 'I arrived in the United States, and in 20 months of work, 16 people have already invaded the pitch. There's a huge problem here. I'm not the problem. Let me help Messi.
'I love MLS and Concacaf, but we have to work together. I love helping. I'm not better than anyone, but I have a wealth of experience in Europe. It's fine, I understand their decision, but I think we could do better.'
An MLS spokesperson told The Athletic on Tuesday that the league has not changed its policies regarding team security personnel. The spokesperson could not immediately confirm whether there have been 16 pitch invasions since Messi's arrival, as Cheuko claimed. Inter Miami declined to comment.
When Inter Miami traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, last month to play Cavalier FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16, Cheuko was in attendance but not seen on the pitch patrolling Messi's movements at the National Stadium. Concacaf handles team security protocols for its competitions.
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On Tuesday, a source familiar with Concacaf's security plans told The Athletic that the confederation works closely with clubs to develop specific plans. Those plans, the source said, dictate what specific individuals have access to the pitch. Concacaf declined to comment on the record.
Messi has been the target of pitch invaders since his arrival in MLS, though the frequency of those incidents seems to have decreased in 2024 and 2025. Security's response to the breaches has been varied. In one case, Cheuko allowed a young fan to take a selfie with the Argentine legend before putting his arm around him and ushering him off the field.
Others haven't been as lucky, with Cheuko — a mixed martial artist by trade — sprinting onto the field and leveling another intruder. During away matches in Kansas City, Los Angeles, Atlanta and elsewhere, play was stopped as Messi was forced to interact with spectators. Miami has faced the issue both at home and abroad, dealing with pitch invaders in China, Panama and elsewhere during international friendlies.
OMG MESSI'S BODYGUARD SPRINTS TO INTERCEPT PITCH INVADER. HE IS NO JOKE.🏃‍♂️
Messi's Boydguard may be the Messi of Bodyguards. 💪
pic.twitter.com/B6Hea9Xj6f
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) September 4, 2023
Cheuko's absence from the field has caused issues at Miami and, in particular, with Messi, who has expressed his displeasure with Cheuko's change in access, according to multiple sources close to Miami's locker room.
'It's been the case all year long,' said one source, who requested anonymity over not being authorized to discuss the matter. '(Lionel and Yassine) are quite upset about it — (Yassine) has always been really critical of all of the other security (across MLS) and suggested that if they were good at their jobs, he wouldn't even be needed.'
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Another source said Cheuko now sometimes stations himself in the tunnel that leads to the pitch during matches, or in a private box.
The mystery surrounding Cheuko has diffused a bit since his arrival in the U.S., with Cheuko himself embracing his status as a minor celebrity. He still rarely does interviews but frequently posts to social media. His profile grew even further this spring as he became embroiled in a back-and-forth with fellow MMA fighter and social media influencer Logan Paul, who claimed that Cheuko had used Messi for attention. The two have since tentatively agreed to fight each other.
'You said I need attention,' Cheuko responded in his own post. 'You need attention. You start with this, you start to talk about soccer players and make a fight with them. So now we are going to stop talking because I know you are a YouTube product. I come from the streets, I'm a street product, and people on the street don't talk a lot. So now stop talking. I see you on the ring, man.'