Romero's kitchen lighter sets off airport laughs — and Messi can't stop giggling

Argentina's national football team caused an unexpected scene at airport security on their way to Miami ahead of their 2026 World Cup round-of-32 match, leaving players and onlookers in stitches.

According to Argentine outlet Ambito, defender Cristian Romero was passing through airport security en route to Miami for Friday's round-of-32 clash against Cape Verde when screeners pulled an unusual item from his bag — a kitchen spark lighter.

A security officer held up the lighter and began questioning Romero, prompting his teammates to burst out laughing. Lionel Messi, who was preparing for his own bag check right beside him, broke into laughter the moment he saw the officer waving the lighter around — and kept laughing even as he was patted down. Video of the moment spread quickly on social media, drawing wide attention online.

Romero is known as a close friend of Son Heung-min from their time together at Tottenham Hotspur, where he later succeeded Son as club captain.

The item in question was a "Magiclic," a spark igniter commonly found in Argentine homes and used to light kitchen gas stoves or the "parrilla" grill for "asado," the country's charcoal barbecue tradition. It is so ubiquitous in Argentine households that it is often called a national kitchen staple.

The team believes Romero packed it to boil water for "mate," the traditional Argentine herbal drink, or to fire up a grill for an asado with teammates.

However, while the igniter does not use gas, airport security regulations classify it as a fire-starting device, and officers temporarily confiscated it after inspection.

Argentine fans flooded social media with reactions — "No Argentine can give up mate and asado," "Why on earth did Romero bring that?" and "The team atmosphere looks amazing" — and churned out memes playfully parodying the incident.

Meanwhile, Argentina, who swept through the group stage unbeaten, face Cape Verde in the round of 32 at 10 a.m. Friday (Korean Standard Time).