‘Messi-mania’ has hit the United States, with one adoring fan losing his cleaning job on the very first day after asking for the Argentine’s autograph while working
Lionel Messi signed a cleaner’s shirt at Inter Miami – who was then fired (Image: Getty Images)
A cleaner was fired on his first shift after asking for Lionel Messi’s autograph at Inter Miami’s stadium.
Messi’s arrival in the United States has sparked mass frenzy since signing for David Beckham’s Inter Miami in June. The Argentina and Barcelona legend has repeatedly been mobbed by adoring fans seeking to greet their idol whenever he is in public.
The 36-year-old was bizarrely asked for a kiss by a fan while driving this week. And the hysteria surrounding the footballing magician persists even with staff when he’s arriving at Inter’s stadium on match days.
Messi scored two goals on Thursday as Miami beat Orlando City. But prior to the match, he was swarmed by a Colombian man named Cristian Salamanca, who was hired by a cleaning company who look after sports venues.
Salamanca, whose very first cleaning shift was during Inter’s Leagues Cup match against Orlando, could not believe his luck when he spotted the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner getting off the team bus.
Seizing the opportunity, he approached Messi and lifted his uniform to reveal an Argentina shirt – which he duly signed. But the super-fan’s moment of elation came at the cost of having his employment terminated.
Cristian Salamanca lost his job asking for Messi’s autograph (Image: LA NACION)
Speaking to Argentine newspaper La Nacion, Salamanca said: “I had to clean the bathrooms in the sector where the buses park. Fortunately, I was out there when the bus arrived and all the players got out. The last one was Messi.
“I yelled at him: ‘Hey, world champion!’ He turned to look. I lifted up my uniform shirt and I had down the shirt of the Argentine team and a marker.
Lionel Messi has been swarmed by fans everywhere he goes (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“He gave me his autograph. Security came right away, they took me out and fired me from my job, but it was worth every second!”
Messi’s arrival continues to increase football’s popularity in the US. The ex-Paris Saint-Germain star has scored five goals in just three appearances to kick off his career state-side.
