Honestly, I think lots of athletes were just as shocked and amused as everyone else. If you watched the reactions, both players and the crowd had that “did this really just happen?” look on their faces. Athletes like Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho were there, and you could see everyone was trying not to bust out laughing or totally freak out.

From what I've read and heard, fans online are kinda split. Some people find it hilarious and see it as classic bodyguard behavior—always on high alert. Others think it was way too much for a friendly charity match. But in a weird way, I feel like it actually makes Messi’s security seem more intense, almost like people now believe his team will always go all out to protect him, even if it’s just a fun game.

If anything, other athletes are probably going to joke about this for a while. It’s the kind of story that gets brought up at every sports party: “Hey, remember when Messi’s bodyguard took out an NBA guy at a charity game?” It’s wild, but now everyone knows not to mess with Messi’s squad, even if you’re a sports legend.