Lionel Messi has no privileges at U.S. airports. The captain of the Argentinian National Team was searched and had his luggage checked by security agents before flying from Dallas to Miami, where the team will compete in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.
Images of the star being captured while laughing went viral on social media this Thursday.
According to the sports newspaper Olé, which covered the trip of the Albiceleste team, all players from the world champion went through metal detectors and had their luggage opened without exception.
A security agent summarized the moment with a phrase that also went viral: "Remember, the next time TSA bothers you, even Messi has to go through it."
The most hilarious episode, however, starred the central defender Cristian «Cuti» Romero: an agent discovered a large kitchen lighter, known as a magiclick, in his suitcase, which was immediately confiscated as it is a prohibited flammable item in the cabin.
It was Rodrigo De Paul who alerted Messi about what had happened, and the captain couldn't help but laugh. Romero boarded the plane empty-handed.
The reason the Tottenham defender carried the lighter was not trivial: Romero belongs to "The Palo Santo Gang," a group within the Argentine team that also includes Lisandro Martínez and Nahuel Molina, which commonly uses palo santo to cleanse the concentration rooms, believing it wards off negative energies.
Cuti Romero arrived at the World Cup recovering from an injury to his right knee that kept him off the field for two months, making it even more noteworthy that his biggest setback in the tournament was losing a lighter at the airport.
Argentina finished the group stage as the leader of Group J with 9 points, three victories, 8 goals scored, and only one against. Messi scored six of those eight goals: a hat-trick against Algeria, a double against Austria, and one against Jordan.
The next opponent of Lionel Scaloni's team is Cabo Verde, a selection that historically makes its debut in a World Cup elimination phase after qualifying as the second team in Group H. The match will be held this Saturday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, a venue that Messi is well acquainted with as the home of his club, Inter Miami.
If Argentina defeats Cape Verde, they will face the winner of the match between Egypt and Australia in the round of 16. All signs suggest that the defending champion is arriving in good shape, in a good mood, and at least for now, without any lighters in their luggage.
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