Lionel Messi has just returned to play after injury and immediately left his mark with a goal to help Inter Miami defeat Philadelphia Union in MLS.

However, as the Argentine superstar returned to the pitch, one familiar figure to fans was absent: close bodyguard Yassine Cheuko – who has been banned from attending matches in MLS and CONCACAF.

Cheuko, a former US Navy SEAL and professional MMA fighter, was personally selected by president David Beckham to protect Messi when he joined Inter Miami. During his nearly two years in the US, Cheuko became the unofficial face of the team, constantly preventing pitch invasions and ensuring Messi’s safety amid the frenzy of fans.

However, according to the latest sharing from Cheuko himself to House of Highlights, he said that he has been banned from the sidelines of Inter Miami’s matches in MLS and CONCACAF. “They don’t let me play anymore,” he said. “I worked for 7 years in Europe in Ligue 1 and Champions League, only 6 people broke into the pitch. But in America, after 20 months, there were 16 break-ins. The problem is not me – I came to help Messi.”

The ban comes as the league seeks to regulate its image and security standards. However, the decision has raised questions, especially since Cheuko’s role is not only to protect the players but also to control situations that arise from excessive enthusiasm. He once stopped a boy from approaching Messi without permission, then took the boy to meet his idol to get a photo and autograph – an act that was both serious and humane.

Also during this time, Lionel Messi is facing a tight schedule with Inter Miami. After the win over Philadelphia Union, coach Javier Mascherano and his team will visit Los Angeles FC in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals on April 4 (Vietnam time). Before this important match, Mascherano affirmed: “The plan is for Messi to fully recover and travel to Los Angeles with the team.”

Despite only coming on in the 55th minute of the match against Philadelphia, Messi took just two minutes to score, showing that his fitness has improved significantly. “We wanted Messi to play for 30 to 35 minutes, and in the end more than 40 minutes including injury time. The important thing is that he feels good, that he doesn’t have any reactions,” Mascherano stressed.

However, the coaching staff is not complacent as the team enters a series of five matches in just 16 days, spanning from March 29 to April 13. Messi will be allocated reasonable playing time to avoid a recurrence of the adductor injury that caused him to miss the Argentina team in the South American World Cup qualifiers.

Messi’s return, although not a full 90 minutes, is still a big boost for Inter Miami’s title ambitions. At the same time, the absence of bodyguard Cheuko creates a big gap in terms of security, especially when Messi’s name is always the center of attention every time he takes the field. The question now is: is MLS sacrificing too much just to control its image, while the real issue of safety is pushed to the sidelines?

One thing is for sure, Messi is on a clear path to recovery, with the utmost caution from his medical team and coaching staff. But if the pitch invasions continue, the league will need to recalibrate soon – not only to protect its biggest star, but also to maintain MLS’s image of professionalism and safety.