A police dossier has revealed a chilling World Cup terror plot targeting Lionel Messi, including an alleged suicide bomb attack, as well as thousands of threats against a referee.
Threats against Messi
The report, uncovered by Spanish newspaper Informacion.es, details a series of threats against football stars and officials throughout the tournament. In one incident, a fanatic allegedly vowed to blow up the Argentina superstar during a match, saying: "I'm going to walk into the Atlanta stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs stuck in my body."
The most concrete threat arose when a man called Dallas airport, announcing that he and two others were heading to the city's stadium with "homemade bombs and an AR-15" (a semi-automatic rifle). He said they intended to attack "police officers and players from both teams," with "special mention of Lionel Messi," according to the security report.
Security response
A joint security network led by the FBI and the IPCC (Centre for International Police Cooperation) tracked high-level terror alerts, stalkers and violent threats directed at players and their families. During Argentina's match against Egypt on July 7, a user on X wrote: "I'm about to enter the Atlanta stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs stuck in my body."
Explosives specialists, canine handlers and their K-9 agents searched the Atlanta stadium after another man called police during the game, claiming he had left "three bombs" in litter bins.
Harassment of Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo was the most persecuted player. On June 14, a FIFA employee reported "a suspicious man" asking for "details" about the Portuguese footballer's accommodation. Houston police arrested that man on the 16th at Ronaldo's hotel. Another man was arrested in Toronto for a similar incident, trying to get into an elevator with Ronaldo. Other incidents occurred in Miami and during the Portugal-Croatia match, when a man in a Ronaldo shirt jumped onto the field.
Other players targeted
Kylian Mbappé faced "xenophobic" insults after a tense scene with Paraguay's goalkeeper, and a doll with his image was burned and broadcast on social networks in Paraguay. Players who made mistakes also received death threats, including Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth and his wife, Colombian player Jaminton Campaz, and French defender Lucas Digne. South Korea's coach Hong Myung-bo and the entire team had to be escorted by police to the airport after death threats.
