A leaked police dossier has reportedly revealed multiple threats and an alleged plot to assassinate Argentine football superstar, Lionel Messi during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Key Highlights
- A leaked police dossier reportedly revealed multiple threats against Lionel Messi during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- The most serious alleged threat involved a claim that Messi would be attacked with explosives before Argentina’s match against Egypt.
- Security teams conducted stadium sweeps after reports of explosives, but no explosives were found and the alert was deemed a false alarm.
- Another alleged threat reportedly named Messi as a target and involved claims of homemade explosives and an AR-15 rifle.
- Security agencies, including the FBI and international partners, reportedly increased protection around high-profile players.
According to Spanish sports newspaper MARCA, Messi was the subject of more threats than any other player during the tournament, with security agencies investigating several incidents involving alleged plans to attack the Argentine captain.
The report said the most serious threat emerged shortly before Argentina’s Round of 16 match against Egypt, when an individual allegedly posted a threat claiming he would attack Messi with explosives.
The threat reportedly prompted security authorities to conduct an extensive sweep of the stadium in Atlanta, including the deployment of sniffer dogs, following separate reports that explosives had allegedly been concealed in waste bins around the venue.
However, no explosives were reportedly discovered and officials subsequently determined that the alert was a false alarm.
Another threat was allegedly recorded ahead of Argentina’s group-stage match against Jordan.
According to the report, a man contacted Dallas airport and allegedly claimed that he and two accomplices were travelling to the stadium armed with homemade explosives and an AR-15 rifle, specifically naming Messi as their intended target.
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The alleged threats triggered heightened security measures around Argentina’s matches as authorities sought to protect the football superstar and other high-profile players.
Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo was also reportedly targeted by separate threats during the tournament, with several suspects allegedly arrested in connection with threats against him.
The report said security agencies, including the FBI and international law-enforcement partners, worked together throughout the tournament to identify, investigate and neutralise potential threats against prominent players.
The incidents highlighted the extensive security arrangements put in place around the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, particularly for matches involving some of the tournament’s biggest global football stars.
