US Stopped Multiple Plots to Assassinate Lionel Messi During the 2026 World Cup, Police Report Says

The U.S. police report disclosed multiple assassination attempts on Lionel Messi during the 2026 World Cup. According to Spanish sports newspaper Marca, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) were involved in neutralizing these threats. Messi was targeted more than any other player, and the most alarming incidents included bomb threats.

Prior to Argentina's group-stage match against Jordan, a man called Dallas airport, threatening to storm the stadium with his accomplices armed with homemade explosives and an AR-15 rifle. Messi was explicitly mentioned in the threat, indicating his dire peril. Additionally, during Argentina's round-of-16 clash with Egypt, a suspect wrote on social media, "I am going into the Atlanta Stadium and blowing Messi up with four bombs strapped to my body".

The authorities intercepted this online message, but the threat persisted. As the match progressed, another caller warned that three bombs were hidden in trash bins within the stadium. A thorough search by explosive-detection dogs confirmed the threat as a false alarm. Cristiano Ronaldo, another star player, also experienced security breaches.

FIFA alerted the FBI about a suspicious individual seeking sensitive information about Ronaldo's hotel accommodation. Two days later, the man was arrested inside the hotel. In Toronto, an individual was apprehended for attempting to enter Ronaldo's elevator with the intent of taking a selfie. These threats extended to the tournament's match officials, with French referee François Letexier receiving over 6,000 hate messages on his personal WhatsApp following the Argentina-Egypt match.

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the match was also targeted by similar threats. To counteract this intense hostility, authorities reinforced security measures for the referees' homes and families in France.