The unusual object that was confiscated from Cuti Romero and made Messi laugh

The Argentine National Team experienced a moment as unexpected as it was hilarious during their transfer to Miami to compete in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup against Cape Verde. In the middle of a security check at Kansas airport, an object found in Cristian "Cuti" Romero's luggage caught the attention of the agents and ended up provoking the laughter of Lionel Messi and the rest of the team.

Everything happened when the defender's carry-on luggage was set aside for a more thorough inspection. The scanner had detected a suspicious item and the security personnel decided to open the suitcase. Far from finding a valuable object or any technological device, the agents discovered a Magiclick, the traditional lighter used to ignite stoves.

The situation quickly went viral thanks to a video posted by Josh Chavis, creative director of VML Global. In the footage, Rodrigo De Paul is seen warning Messi about what was happening and, seconds later, the Argentine captain burst out laughing upon seeing the agents displaying the lighter in front of Romero.

The episode didn't take long to find an explanation. The defender usually uses the lighter to burn palo santo during team gatherings, a ritual he shares with Lisandro Martínez and Nahuel Molina as part of a superstition aimed at "cleansing energies" before important matches.

The custom began during the Qatar World Cup, when Martínez started to incense the rooms of the team and, over time, the habit was also adopted by Romero and Molina, becoming one of the group's most curious traditions.

However, airport security regulations were definitive. As it was a flammable item not authorized for travel in the aircraft cabin, the Magiclick was confiscated by the authorities and Romero had to continue the journey without it.

Far from disrupting the team's atmosphere, the scene reflected the relaxed environment that the Argentine National Team experiences during the World Cup and left a new anecdote for the intimacy of Lionel Scaloni's team.