Lionel Messi has earned fandom all over the world for his incredible skills and goalscoring ability. The Argentina national team captain has taken his abilities and star power to the Major League Soccer (MLS) where he plays his trade for David Beckham-owned Inter Miami.
Thousands throng to the stadiums to get one glimpse of the 37-year-old little magician in his true element before he hangs up his boots for good.
Over the years, another person has gathered notoriety is Messi's bodyguard Yassine Cheuko, a former military operative physically equipped to monitor every move the star player makes and thwart unwanted advances.
An example of that came on Sunday when Inter Miami travelled to the BMO Field to take on Toronto FC in Ontario, Canada. During the game, a young fan sprinted across to try and get close to Messi. Ever watchful, Cheuko spotted the potential threat and made a beeline run on the pitch to get to the halfway line before the kid could make an approach.
Despite Cheuko's intervention, Messi allowed the youngster to take a photo with him before promptly returning to his seat.
Given the nature of his job and task of protecting one of the biggest stars on the planet, Cheuko is granted special access to the pitch to fend off such situations.
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
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