Lionel Messi subjected to World Cup murder threat, US authorities reveal

A US police report has revealed that Lionel Messi was the subject of a suicide bomb threat during the World Cup.

Spanish newspaper Marca has disclosed details from a chilling American police report, which lists all the security threats faced by the FBI and the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) this summer.

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According to the news outlet, Argentina superstar Messi received more threats than any other player throughout the tournament.

The risk extended to his national teammates, with the report revealing one plot during their final group game against Jordan.

One man is said to have rung up Dallas Airport and warned that he and two others would storm the stadium with “homemade bombs and an AR-15 [rifle].”

Messi was named as a specific target, with the suspected bomber making explicit mention of him, as well as vowing to attack ‘police officers and players from both teams’.

This was repeated again in Argentina’s round of 16 clash with Egypt, where their captain was targeted by a bomb threat.

One of the suspects wrote on their social media: “I’m going to enter Atlanta Stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs strapped to my body.”

During that same match, the police received a call from another man claiming he had left “three bombs” inside bins across the stands.

This caused the entire stadium to be searched with explosive-detection dogs, but ultimately turned out to be a false alarm.

Ronaldo also targeted

Messi’s rival Cristiano Ronaldo was also an alleged victim of World Cup attack fears.

According to the police report, a FIFA employee reported the presence of a ‘suspicious man’ to the FBI, who had asked for details about the Portugal icon’s accommodation.

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Two days later, Houston police are said to have tracked down the same man and located him in the hotel where the Portugal team were staying.

Another individual was then arrested in Toronto over a similar incident, having tried to get in a lift with Ronaldo, later claiming they only wanted to take selfie with him.

Referee abuse

As well as dealing with major threats towards players, the report also revealed referees were targeted with hate.

French referee Francois Letexier received more than 6,000 hate messages on his personal WhatsApp after officiating Argentina’s controversial last-16 win over Egypt.

With Egypt manager Hossam Hassan later accusing FIFA of bias towards Argentina after being left furious with refereeing decisions, fans followed suit.

Egyptian supporters hounded the official, as well as aiming furious messages at VAR referee Willy Delajod, including death threats.

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The police report disclosed that the French pair had to reinforce the security of their homes and families in France after the incident.

As well as players requiring police intervention out in the US, other national teams received protection on home soil.

The South Korea national team were given a police escort as they returned home from the World Cup, after crashing out in the group stage in North America.

Around 160 airport and riot police were reportedly deployed as the players were met by fans hurling abuse at manager Hong Myung-bo, who stepped down from his role after the tournament.