Yassine Cheuko isn’t a household name. At least, not yet. But over the last few weeks, Lionel Messi’s bodyguard has stepped out of the shadows and into the internet spotlight, fueled by a social media feud with Logan Paul and a $15 million fight offer that has fans, and meme accounts, watching closely.
This isn’t just about viral spectacle. Behind the flexing and fight talk lies a business dispute, a question of pride, and a sharp turn in how athletes and their entourages navigate global celebrity.
From pitch protector to potential headliner
Cheuko became a fixture at Messi’s side after the star’s move to Inter Miami, a ripped, stoic presence tasked with shielding the most famous footballer on earth. In Miami, he went viral for chasing down pitch invaders with the kind of urgency rarely seen outside of SWAT footage. Fans joked he covered more ground than some midfielders.
But in April 2025, MLS barred Cheuko from patrolling the touchline. The league moved to standardize security, limiting his access to locker rooms and tunnels. That didn’t stop the internet from turning him into a cult figure, or from stepping into a larger role when Logan Paul entered the picture.
Paul, the YouTuber turned fighter turned WWE star, accused Messi’s new hydration brand Mas+ of ripping off PRIME, the drink Paul co-founded. The branding, the bottle shape, even the plus sign, Paul cried foul. The lawsuit that followed is still winding through court, but Paul, ever the showman, offered an out: drop the suit and fight me.
Messi didn’t bite. But Cheuko did.
In a now-viral Instagram video, Cheuko held up a signed $15 million fight contract, called Paul “Lolo,” and taunted him for hiding. “When I’m going to smash you, you’re going to have your name on your face,” he said, insisting the bout be held at Inter Miami’s stadium.
The response? Crickets from Paul, who later said he turned down the offer to focus on WWE. He’s been mocked online ever since. Reddit, Twitter, TikTok, they’ve all piled on. “Logan Paul is about to go into hiding” is now a common refrain.
Spectacle or strategy?
It’s easy to write this off as internet fluff. But the layers run deeper.
Cheuko’s mythos, ex-special forces, MMA-trained, deeply loyal, makes him the kind of real-world avatar fans love. He’s not an influencer. He’s not polished. He’s the guy who keeps Messi safe, who doesn’t flinch when fans storm the pitch, who’s now ready to trade fists for pride.
Paul, for all his athleticism and charisma, is playing a different game. His boxing record is slim (0–1 as a pro, with exhibitions against KSI and Floyd Mayweather), but he knows how to monetize a moment. A fight against Messi’s bodyguard could draw massive pay-per-view numbers, but it also comes with risk. Lose to a non-boxer, and your aura takes a hit.
Which may be why Paul, who first lobbed the challenge Messi’s way, is now ducking it.
What’s compelling here isn’t just the possibility of a fight, but what it reveals: the evolution of sports celebrity, the power of loyalty in an era of brands and beefs, and how far someone will go to defend a name, even if it’s not their own.
Cheuko says the world is waiting. Maybe it is. Or maybe it’s just watching the lines blur between marketing, masculinity, and modern myth-making.
But if Logan Paul does eventually sign that contract, one thing is certain. Messi’s bodyguard won’t be running to stop anyone this time. He’ll be walking straight into the ring.
