Featured Image Credit: Bleacher Report & YouTube
Topics: Inter Miami, Lionel Messi, MLS
Josh Lawless
Lionel Messi has a personal bodyguard at Inter Miami and he goes absolutely everywhere with the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Messi has been a revelation across the pond and could win the 44th trophy of his career on Sunday when Inter play the Leagues Cup final against Nashville.
The 36-year-old has scored nine goals in his first six games and 'Messi-Mania' is very much running wild, with everyone desperate to get a piece of the Argentine.
Inter have had to ramp up security measures ever since Messi arrived and the biggest one was bringing in a bodyguard who genuinely follows Messi wherever he goes - though he wasn't present in the Publix store where Messi was bombarded.
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As videos on social media show, a large, scary-looking gentleman is trying to replicate the job Rodrigo De Paul does when Messi plays for the Argentina national team.
As soon as Messi gets off the team bus, he is there waiting to escort him into the stadium. And with fans taking pictures and asking for autographs, the guard, wearing his Inter attire, ensures they don't get too close.
In fact, he's even been seen stopping fans from touching the Barcelona legend and politely moved hands away from Messi's shoulder.
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When Messi goes out to warm-up, he's always lurking. And then even with games going on, the individual is never too far away.
He takes up a position on the touchline while Messi is strutting his stuff on the pitch and is on the scene immediately in the event that a pitch invader appears.
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In one clip at the end of a game, the guy scans like prime Xavi just to make sure no-one is coming for Messi. While in another, he throws an Argentina shirt on the floor when a fan throws it to Messi for him to sign.
The unnamed guard frequently comes onto the pitch after matches and we're very intrigued to know about his contracted hours and wages.