Yumara Salinas, a Venezuelan immigrant living in Miami, recently lost her job after posting a short video of Lionel Messi sending a personal greeting to her partner.

Salinas says that during an overtime shift at a stadium—apparently not the one where she normally worked—she seized a brief chance to approach Messi. As he walked by, she asked him to send a message: “Gredito Colón … my partner,” she called out. Messi paused, smiled, and replied warmly: “Ah, I thought it was for your child… Gredito Colón, greetings.” She later shared the 11-second clip on her Instagram account. pulzo.com+2Fox Sports+2

Soon afterward, the video went viral, attracting widespread attention. But the joy of that moment came with a heavy price: her employer informed her that she could no longer work in stadiums. TUDN+1 According to her own accounts on social media, the company did not offer a detailed, public explanation for her dismissal. pulzo.com

The news sparked a wave of support and public debate. Many people argue that the punishment was disproportionate, calling into question whether a heartfelt, spontaneous gesture should lead to such serious professional consequences. Fox Sports In her post, Salinas expressed both disappointment and hope: “Unfortunately this cost me my job. God’s timing is perfect and something better is coming for me.” SportsTak+1

According to El Tiempo, the company framed her action as “inappropriate,” but still did not publicly clarify which specific internal rule she allegedly violated. El Tiempo For her part, Salinas continues to remain optimistic, despite the uncertainty about what comes next. pulzo.com

Her story raises important questions about the intersection of professional responsibilities and personal life in the age of social media. Even a seemingly innocent, affectionate video — intended to bring joy to a loved one — turned into a career risk, especially when leadership and public image are involved. The incident also highlights how companies may interpret employee behavior differently when it becomes public, and how personal boundaries can quickly collide with job policies.