Aleaked police dossier has revealed that Lionel Messi was allegedly the prime target of multiple terror threats during the FIFA World Cup 2026, a chilling reminder that even the world's greatest footballer isn't safe from the darker side of fandom.
Spanish daily Informacion.es reported that the dossier listed bomb threats, stalking, and online abuse aimed at players, referees, and officials. Messi and Argentina featured prominently, with one suspect brazenly posting on X: "I'm going to walk into the Atlanta stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs strapped to my body." Authorities treated the threat with maximum seriousness, deploying a joint security network led by the FBI and International Police Cooperation (IPCC).
Another incident involved a call to Dallas airport claiming attackers were headed to the stadium with homemade bombs and an AR-15, again naming Messi.
The dossier also flagged repeated threats against Cristiano Ronaldo, including suspicious attempts to obtain his accommodation details, and French referee Francois Letexier, who reportedly received 6,000 abusive WhatsApp messages.
The revelations underscore the extraordinary scale of security challenges at global sporting events, where legends like Messi and Ronaldo inspire devotion, but also attract dangerous obsession.
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