19 August 2023 , 22:45
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Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is the best footballer on the planet, and following his move to the United States he's got one of the best bodyguards too.
Messi has instantly become one of the most popular sports stars in the United States, let alone in Miami or Major League Soccer. Fans are spending hundreds of dollars on tickets just to see the 36-year-old play, travelling from across the country to get a glimpse of him in action.
Those fans who have spent the money and made the effort have been rewarded so far, with Messi leading Miami to the Leagues Cup final with nine goals in six games. However, with so many eyes on Messi, he has to ensure he is protected at all times.
Messi had a bodyguard hired by Inter Miami to follow his every move, escorting him at all times on matchdays and even following him on the touchline like an assistant referee. It's an incredible commitment from the bodyguard, and his efforts have been noticed by fans.
The bodyguard has been seen running up and down the side of the field while Messi is in play, in the event that a fan runs onto the pitch to try and get to the Miami player. He's already been put to work too, catching jerseys thrown in his direction and even escorting a couple of pitch invaders away from Messi as they desperately tried to get him to sign merchandise.
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Miami has been a luxury club since David Beckham founded the franchise in 2018. But the summer of 2023 has seen the team level up immensely due to the signings of Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
Director Jorge Mas was aware of the security risks when signing the trio, and made changes before they arrived. Speaking to the Miami Herald, Mas said in June: "Security will obviously be enhanced. Players will be bussed in, going through a tunnel.
Messi's bodyguard even jogs up and down the touchline with him (@Lionel30i / Twitter)"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."
Messi has broken records since moving to Miami, and is already the leading scorer in Leagues Cup history. His first MLS game will take place on Aug. 26, as Miami travels to New Jersey to face New York Red Bulls.