'Homemade bombs and an AR-15:' How an American plotted to kill Lionel Messi during the FIFA World Cup
A leaked police dossier has revealed security threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among the players targeted. The incidents included bomb threats, stalking and online abuse, while other players and referees also faced threats
The 2026 FIFA World Cup saw a series of threats against footballers, with Argentine maestro Lionel Messi being the primary target. FBI and International Police Cooperation Center coordinated to counter incidents, which included bomb threats, stalking cases, and online abuse. One man threatened to bring homemade bombs and an AR-15 to the Argentina-Jordan match, targeting police officers and players.
Another individual claimed to have placed four bombs strapped to his body at Atlanta's stadium. During the Argentina-Egypt game, a user on X threatened to blow up Messi with four bombs. A man even called police about three bombs left in trash cans in the stadium. Cristiano Ronaldo faced the most harassment, with a suspicious man seeking details about his accommodations.
Other players, referees, and officials also faced threats, with Kylian Mbappé and Alexander Sorloth receiving death threats. French referee François Letexier received over six thousand threatening messages due to his controversial performance in the Argentina-Egypt match.
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