Daijiworld Media Network - Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Aug 8: Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi was reportedly the target of the most serious threats against players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a police dossier detailing alleged plans to attack him with explosives.
The security reports also documented threats against other players, officials and referees during the tournament.
According to Spanish outlet Informacion.es, security agencies from the United States and participating countries worked through an FBI-coordinated network to monitor terrorism alerts, violent threats and suspicious activity throughout the World Cup. The dossier reportedly identified Messi as the player who attracted the highest number of threats.
One of the most serious incidents was reported in Dallas, where Argentina played Jordan. A man allegedly contacted Dallas airport and claimed that he and two others were travelling towards the stadium carrying “homemade bombs and an AR-15”. The threat was directed at police officers and players from both teams, with Messi specifically named as a target.
Another threat emerged ahead of Argentina's match against Egypt in Atlanta. An X user allegedly threatened to enter the stadium and attack Messi with explosives strapped to their body.
During the Atlanta match, police also received a separate call claiming that three bombs had been placed in different bins inside the stadium. Explosives specialists, canine handlers and K-9 teams were deployed to search the venue.
The security reports were compiled as part of an international operation coordinated by the FBI and the Centre for International Police Cooperation, involving law enforcement agencies from countries participating in the World Cup.
Messi's status as one of the tournament's biggest attractions made him a particular security concern, with authorities monitoring threats involving players, their families and tournament venues.
Ronaldo also targeted
Messi was not the only global football star mentioned in the security reports. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly faced persistent harassment during the tournament.
According to the dossier, a FIFA employee raised an alert on June 14 after noticing a suspicious man seeking information about Ronaldo's accommodation.
Houston police subsequently identified and arrested the man on June 16 at the hotel where Ronaldo was staying with the Portugal squad.
Match officials also faced threats during the tournament. French referee François Letexier was reportedly subjected to more than 6,000 WhatsApp threats, highlighting the scale of abuse surrounding some of the World Cup's high-profile matches.
The dossier has shed light on the extensive security challenges surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with authorities closely monitoring threats against football's biggest names as well as potential attacks targeting stadiums and tournament venues.