Now Reading: Leaked dossier reveals plot to kill Messi at 2026 World Cup
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Leaked dossier reveals plot to kill Messi at 2026 World Cup
A leaked police dossier has revealed that Lionel Messi was the primary target of multiple terror threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Spanish newspaper Informacion.es reported. The documents describe a caller…
The Story in Brief
A leaked police dossier has revealed that Lionel Messi was the primary target of multiple terror threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Spanish newspaper Informacion.es reported. The documents describe a caller warning Dallas airport before Argentina's match against Jordan that he and two others planned to enter the stadium with 'homemade bombs and an AR-15', making special mention of Messi. Another threat surfaced before Argentina's July 7 match against Egypt in Atlanta, when an X user wrote, 'I'm about to enter Atlanta's stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs strapped to my body.'
The FBI and the Centre for International Police Cooperation monitored the threats, which also targeted Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, referees and other players. Ronaldo was harassed the most, with one man arrested after trying to enter his hotel lift for a selfie. French referee François Letexier received over 6,000 threatening WhatsApp messages. A doll bearing Mbappé's image was burned and shared online after France's match against Paraguay. All threats were investigated as part of the tournament's security operation.
The Indian Opinion
The leak turns a sporting spectacle into a grim ledger of hate. Sensational headlines about a 'plot to kill Messi' obscure a more unsettling truth: ordinary fans sent death threats, stalked stars and burned effigies over missed penalties and refereeing calls. Security agencies did their job, but the real failure is social media's tolerance for abuse aimed at players and officials. Watch whether FIFA and host governments act on this dossier with bans and prosecutions, or file it away until the next World Cup brings fresh threats.
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
