SOCCER icon Lionel Messi returned from injury on Saturday and was met with an unusual sight: a little fan running onto the field for a photo.
Messi was on the pitch for Inter Miami’s match against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, his first appearance since March 13, when an exuberant supporter sprinted at the international icon.
4Lionel Messi was surprised by a fan running onto the field during the matchCredit: AP:Associated Press
4The fan ran onto the field to get a photo with MessiCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The moment came late in the game, when the score was knotted at 2-2.
It’s unknown how the fan got onto the pitch, but she managed to rush up and approach Messi for a selfie.
She moved near enough to wrap her arms around the soccer star and pulled out her smartphone to capture a photo of the two.
The incident was quickly resolved, with a wave of security personnel entering and taking the fan from the field.
Messi’s security guard and former US Navy seal, Yassine Chueko, also helped to remove the girl.
MLS supporters flooded social media with comments about the fan “risking it” for a photo.
“She risked it all but got rewarded lol,” this fan said.
Another fan said, “It’s Messi, at the end of the day. That moment will stay with her forever.”
“Ahhh people are so lucky,” a third expressed
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been out and stepped on the field first time after missing over two weeks with a hamstring injury.
His impact was felt instantly as he came off the bench and scored a goal, helping the team force a draw.
Messi joined the MLS in July of 2023 after a decorated international career.
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However, since joining, he has had several run-ins with fans invading the pitch.
In July 2023, a fan was detained by security for attempting to leap onto the field at DRV PNK Stadium to reach Messi after he was substituted against Atlanta United.
Last September, Messi’s bodyguard made news for assaulting a supporter.
In the middle of the game, a fan dressed in a Messi Barcelona jersey ran onto the pitch before being removed.
Another incident occurred in October, when a young fan was observed racing onto the field.
Chueko stopped the youngster again, but this time he let him approach Messi, who subsequently posed for a photo and signed his shirt.
Messi is now at Inter Miami, and his contract expires at the end of the 2025 MLS season, but it has an option to extend until 2026.
