Meet Bodyguard Yassine Chueko Whose Job Is To Man-Mark Lionel Messi On And Off The Pitch In Miami

Lionel Messi's bodyguard, Yassine Chueko, went viral on social media this week.

Many fans spotted Chueko sprinting down the touchline after Inter Miami captain Messi had assisted a 97th-minute equalizer against FC Cincinnati in Wednesday's U.S. Open semi-final.

But he was not trying to join Messi and his teammates in their goal celebration.

Chueko was there to keep intruders out.

Messi is the highest-profile soccer star ever to play in the USA and that makes him a target.

Chueko was reportedly hired to protect Messi following a personal recommendation by Inter Miami club president David Beckham.

Part of Chueko's job is to run around the outside of the pitch and effectively man-mark Messi during games. This is so that he is able to intercept any pitch invaders who attempt to get close to the Miami captain.

Chueko also guards Messi before and after matches, as well as when he is out and about with his family in public - for example, when they go shopping.

The video below was taken before Miami's 4-1 win at Philadelphia Union earlier this month. It shows Chueko stood by the side of the Miami team bus waiting for Messi.

Chueko remains unmoved while the likes of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets walk past him but he springs into action as soon as Messi steps off the vehicle.

Chueko is a former US soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL, according to La Nacion.

He currently has 114,000 followers on Instagram, where he mostly posts videos about his boxing and martial arts training routines.

Chueko has competed in several MMA fights.