Yassine Cheuko, Messi’s bodyguard, suspended from Leagues Cup 2025 after incident with Atlas players

Yassine Cheuko, Lionel Messi’s personal bodyguard, has been suspended for the remainder of the Leagues Cup 2025 after entering the field without authorization and pushing several Atlas players following Inter Miami’s victory on Wednesday night at Chase Stadium.

“After the Inter Miami CF vs. Club Atlas match on July 30, a member of the club’s delegation displayed inappropriate conduct by entering restricted areas without an official credential. Per the Leagues Cup 2025 tournament regulations, the Disciplinary Committee has suspended the individual involved from all technical areas for the remainder of the tournament and imposed a financial fine on Inter Miami CF,” the official statement read.

The moment when the bodyguard pushes the Atlas player

Although the name is not directly mentioned, the sanction targets Cheuko, who intervened in a scuffle between players after Messi’s game-winning goal.

What happened between Messi, Atlas, and his bodyguard?

Following Inter Miami’s hard-fought victory over Atlas, Lionel Messi celebrated his goal intensely in the face of Matías Cóccaro, sparking a confrontation between players from both teams. Amid the chaos, Cheuko invaded the field and pulled and pushed several Atlas players, as seen in viral social media videos.

Messi, for his part, apologized to Cóccaro and gifted him his jersey, acknowledging his gesture as inappropriate:

“He’s the greatest of all time; with him, I keep my mouth shut,” the Atlas player stated.

Not the first sanction for Yassine Cheuko

It’s worth noting that Cheuko had previously been sanctioned by Inter Miami, banned from being on the bench during Major League Soccer matches, though he continued as part of the club’s security team.

Inter Miami’s next match

Lionel Messi’s team will face Necaxa this Saturday in their second group stage match of the Leagues Cup 2025, aiming to advance to the next round amid the controversy.