Lionel Messi's bodyguard removes pundit from desk before Champions League final

Lionel Messi's bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko, removed a TNT Sports pundit from their desk before the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

Budapest's Puskas Arena is the host for this season's final - the first time Hungary has ever hosted the Champions League's showpiece event.

A host of greats from across world football got their tickets to attend the final, including Inter Miami star Messi's own bodyguard.

Cheuko, who was born in France, has a history of martial arts and security and has been Messi's personal bodyguard since prior to the 2022 World Cup.

He has continued to accompany Messi during matches since his arrival at PSG and is expected to be involved in his security team at the 2026 World Cup this summer.

Messi's bodyguard carries pundit away

During a pre-match segment for TNT Sports Brasil, Cheuko made his way over the presentation desk, before folding his arms and posing for the camera.

One of the pundits put his arm around Cheuko's shoulder and gestured towards reporter Vitor Sergio Rodrigues, who was stood at the side of the desk.

Messi's bodyguard then lifted up Rodrigues over his shoulder and carried him away, causing the rest of the punditry team to burst into laughter.

Cheuko told social media channel House of Highlights in April 2025 that he had been banned from patrolling the sidelines during Messi's matches, though expressed concern about the amount of pitch invaders in Major League Soccer.

"I was in Europe for seven years, working for Ligue 1 and the Champions League, and only six people invaded the pitch," he said.

"I came to the USA and in just 20 months, 16 people have already done so. There's a huge problem here. I'm not the problem. Let me help Messi."

Inter Miami, who employ Cheuko as part of Messi's security detail, clarified that it was a club decision to prevent the French bodyguard from entering the pitch.

Messi, meanwhile, is not in Paris as he prepares to captain Argentina at the World Cup this summer.

The 38-year-old will play at his fifth and final World Cup, with Argentina defending champions from the 2022 edition.

READ MORE: Argentina announce 26-man World Cup squad as nine previous winners from 2022 miss out

A number of high-profile names were snubbed by manager Lionel Scaloni in his squad selection, with Roma's Paulo Dybala, Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia and Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi - who will become a free agent on June 30 unless he joins a new club before then - all missing out.

Como's Nico Paz and Strasbourg's Valentin Barco, who are two of Argentina's young stars, are both in the final 26-man squad.