Threats to Kill Messi During the World Cup: What the Police Report Revealed

A leaked police report has revealed threats against Lionel Messi and other football stars during the 2026 World Cup. The threats included a phone call about explosive devices before the match with Jordan, a social media message before the game with Egypt, as well as incidents involving Ronaldo, referee Letexier, who received over 6,000 threats, and other players.

A leaked police report, published by the Spanish outlet Informacion, reveals the scale of threats faced by security services during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi was at the center of attention, receiving the highest number of threats. Before the Argentina-Jordan match, an unknown caller told authorities that he and two others intended to arrive at the stadium with homemade explosive devices and an AR-15 rifle, naming police and players, including Messi, as targets. Before the match with Egypt in Atlanta, a user on social media platform X threatened to harm Messi with explosives, and during the match a report of three bombs in trash cans turned out to be false. Cristiano Ronaldo was also the subject of incidents: a suspicious man tried to find out his place of residence, another was detained in Toronto while trying to enter an elevator with the player, and in Miami a fan ran onto the field. Referee François Letexier received over 6,000 threatening messages on WhatsApp after the Argentina-Egypt match, which ended in a 3-2 victory for Argentina, leading to increased security for him. Kylian Mbappé faced xenophobic attacks on social media after the match with Paraguay, and photos of a burning doll were also circulated. Threats were also made against other players, including Alexander Sørloth, Jaminton Campaz, and South Korea's coach Hong Myung-bo, who was provided with a police escort after the team's elimination.