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“They Took Me Out and Fired Me” – After Getting Lionel Messi’s Autograph, Janitor Dismissed From Work in Miami but Doesn’t Regret the Decision

Published Aug 5, 2023 | 9:59 AM EDT

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Lionel Messi is the man of the hour in the United States. The Argentine has become a sort of celebrity sensation in the country ever since his arrival. American fans are dreaming of meeting the legendary soccer player. But it seems there are several consequences if you wish to achieve this dream.

The consequences are so severe that you may also lose your job. Don’t scratch your heads as we are about to tell you a story about a janitor, who lost his job after asking for an autograph from Messi.

Janitor losses his job after asking for an autograph from Lionel Messi

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The Colombian man who goes by the name Cristian Salamanca works for a company that cleans venues for various sports and music events. On Wednesday, it was the first and last time he worked at Inter Miami’s Fort Lauderdale home. The MLS club was set to play against Orlando City in the last 32 of the Leagues Cup that night.

Salamanca’s duty was to be stationed near the area, where the teams arrived at the stadium. Discreetly hidden under his uniform was an Argentina jersey. When Miami arrived, he saw this opportunity. While speaking to the Argentine newspaper La Nacion, he 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.”

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He continued, “(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. 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!”

With Luck and courage, Salamanca was able to get his wish fulfilled as he got the autograph. However, why did he got fired just for asking for an autograph from Messi?

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Why did Salamanca get fired?

According to several reports, all the staff members who work at DRV PNK Stadium, regardless of whether they work directly for the club or an external company, are explicitly instructed to maintain professionalism and refrain from approaching Messi for photographs or autographs.

WATCH THIS STORY: 2 Years After Wanting to ‘Kill’ Him, Lionel Messi Gifts One of His Iconic Awards to His World Cup Winning Teammate in a Wholesome Gesture

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But little did Salamanca care, as he was able to get Messi’s autograph. But that definitely came at the cost of losing his job. Nevertheless, it’s quite understandable, given the Argentinian superstar’s popularity.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.

Written by:

Abhishek Mishra

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Abhishek Mishra is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports. Abhishek's love for soccer began during his childhood days when he spent most of his time playing and watching the sport. His early exposure to soccer earned him many accolades at district and zonal levels, making him a true sports enthusiast.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra