Lionel Messi’s bodyguard grabs a fan’s neck as he snatches him away from the World Cup winner after the pitch invader tried to hug him during Inter Miami’s 3-1 win
- Inter Miami surprised Los Angeles FC on Sunday evening with a 3-1 victory in the MLS
- One spectator stormed the field in an attempt to get close to Lionel Messi
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Lionel Messi’s bodyguard, charged with protecting football’s greatest star, took no chances when he sprang into action on Sunday night when a fan ran onto the pitch.
During Inter Miami’s 3-1 win over Los Angeles FC on Sunday evening, a spectator entered the field and prepared for the World Cup winner.
However, Messi’s bodyguard quickly jumped to the defense of his attack and grabbed the field invader around the neck.
The supporter, wearing a Barcelona jersey, successfully reached the attacker and even managed to throw his arms around him in an attempt to hug the football superstar.
But Messi’s guards managed to snatch the intruder away, practically strangling him in the process before two members of staff arrived to help escort him away.
A field invader tried to hug Lionel Messi during Inter Miami’s victory on Sunday night
The World Cup winner’s bodyguard quickly sprang into action and snatched the supporter away
The incident did not appear to distract Messi as he made two assists as the Herons toppled the reigning MLS Cup champions.
Messi completed a lucrative move to Inter Miami this summer after ending his turbulent spell in France with PSG at the age of 36, as he headed to the United States to experience a new league and culture.
But not only did David Beckham’s franchise lure one of the greatest football greats of all time to Miami, it clearly hired one of its most vigilant bodyguards to protect him.
The alert bodyguard has previously watched Messi as he walked on and off the pitch.
Miami revealed its plans to ramp up security ahead of Messi’s arrival, generating a level of attention not seen in American football since David Beckham signed with LA Galaxy in 2007.
Speaking to the Miami Herald, owner Jorge Mas, who led the charm offensive to get Messi to the United States, said in June: “Security will obviously be improved. Players are brought in by bus and go through a tunnel. All these security protocols are already prepared, both here and on the road. And it doesn’t just apply to our games.
The bodyguard practically strangled the intruder as he dragged him away from the soccer star
But the incident didn’t seem to distract the Argentine as he provided two assists
“It’s going to be an everyday occurrence and something that we witnessed and I thought was handled very well when (Messi) was here with Argentina before the World Cup.
“As you may remember, Argentina trained in Miami before flying to Doha. We had the chance every day during training to see some of the Messi mania at our doors. So we are very prepared. We have prepared for this.’
It didn’t take long for Messi mania to sweep across the United States, with the Argentina captain having been mobbed by fans on several occasions since moving to the country.
One even approached him in his car and got a kiss from his hero while he was waiting in traffic.