Messi Faced Bomb and Shooting Threats During World Cup
A leaked police dossier says Messi drew the most threats, while Ronaldo and referee François Letexier also faced security alerts and harassment.
- A leaked police dossier revealed serious security threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, specifically targeting high-profile athletes including Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo with bomb scares and stalking incidents.
- The International Police Cooperation Center , a command center coordinated by the FBI, compiled these findings daily as federal agencies and police from participating countries monitored threats throughout the tournament.
- One individual threatened to "blow up Messi" at Atlanta Stadium using explosives, while another caller claimed carrying "homemade bombs and an AR-15" to a match; authorities treated these violent threats with extreme seriousness.
- Referee Letexier received around 6,000 threatening messages on WhatsApp following controversial officiating decisions, prompting police to increase security at officials' homes and provide protection for their families after addresses were shared online.
- Threats extended beyond Messi to other athletes including Kylian Mbappé and Alexander Sorloth, demonstrating the massive security challenges facing global tournaments and the extensive protective operations required for high-profile football events.
36 Articles
36 Articles
It has been alleged that Argentina national team captain Lionel Messi was the target of two separate death threats during the 2026 World Cup. Leaked security reports, reportedly from the International Police Cooperation Center coordinated by the FBI, stated that the threats involved the use of bombs and AR-15 type semi-automatic rifles. Security breaches targeting Cristiano Ronaldo were also mentioned in the reports.
Lionel Messi Was Subjected To Multiple Assassination Threats During The World Cup, According To FBI Report
Lionel Messi shakes hands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President Donald Trump According to an FBI report, multiple death threats were directed at Lionel Messi during the World Cup, including one that was very serious and involved an alleged plot to murder the soccer star inside a stadium. The threats against Lionel Messi were detailed in an American law enforcement report that outlines every security risk the FBI and the Internationa…
World Cup 2026 security reports revealed serious threats against Lionel Messi, with bomb warnings, an AR-15 rifle and police operations
Messi faced bomb and shooting threats during World Cup
Lionel Messi was the target of more threats than any other player during the World Cup, including a warning that three men carrying homemade bombs and an AR-15 were headed to one of Argentina’s matches, according to internal security reports obtained by a Spanish news outlet. The internal reports have not been officially released to the public but were obtained by Spanish news outlet Información.es. They were prepared daily by the International …
We live in a sick world, says teammate
Nightmarish moments and shocking background surrounding the security of top football stars are brought to light by a revealing international report
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 36% of the sources are Center, 36% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium



























