Messi Faces Assassination Threats During 2026 World Cup

During the 2026 World Cup, Argentina captain Lionel Messi was the target of multiple death threats, according to a review by Spanish newspaper Marca based on a large-scale American police report. The report detailed security threats monitored by both the FBI and the IPCC.

One alarming incident involved a man who threatened to storm the stadium during a group-stage match between Jordan and Argentina, accompanied by two others armed with homemade bombs and an AR-15 rifle, explicitly naming Messi as a target for assassination. Additionally, ahead of the match between Argentina and Egypt, investigators uncovered concerning online messages.

During the same game, officials conducted a bomb search within the stadium, suspecting explosives hidden in bins. However, this search concluded as a false alarm after thorough checks with sniffer dogs.