Lionel Messi is left bewildered as Inter Miami fan storms the field to snatch a selfie before young girl is snatched by hoard of security – including star’s ex-Navy SEAL bodyguard – during his dazzling return from injury in 2-2 tie
Lionel Messi was left stunned on Saturday evening after an encounter with a pitch intruder, when a young girl approached the Inter Miami star for a selfie before security rushed to intervene.
While the Herons and Colorado Rapids were in stoppage time of the eventual 2-2 draw in the second half, the girl somehow made her way to Messi on the pitch, put her arm around him and held out her smartphone for a photo.
Hordes of security officers – including Messi’s personal bodyguard, former US Navy Seal Yassine Chueko – then quickly snatched the girl away.
Chueko famously shadows Messi while on the pitch, running along the touchline with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Playing for the first time since March 13 due to a hamstring injury, Messi came off the bench in the second half and scored in the draw.
Lionel Messi looked perplexed when he was approached by a pitch intruder on Saturday evening
Hordes of security soon rushed to snatch the girl away from the Inter Miami star
That turned out to be Messi’s full-time bodyguard, Yassine Chueko (second from left)
He coolly connected with David Ruiz’s cross in the 60th minute with his favored left foot to give Miami a 2-1 lead.
However, the Rapids would salvage a point when Cole Bassett scored in the 88th minute.
While out injured, Messi missed three league games and was also forced to sit out Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final defeat to Monterrey.
Messi’s old Barca teammates and friends Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also started the match on the bench before coming on in the second half, while Luis Suarez was an unused substitute.
Miami is now winless in its last four games in all competitions.