According to the Spanish newspaper MARCA, Argentine football star Lionel Messi was the subject of several bomb threats throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup held in North America. Law enforcement documents indicate that investigators probed multiple warnings directed at the Argentine captain, including a specific incident leading up to his team’s Round of 16 match against Egypt.
In one instance, an individual shared a social media post claiming they intended to detonate four explosive devices while targeting Messi. This warning forced security teams to sweep Atlanta Stadium using canine units, though no hazards were found and the alert was classified as false. A similar event occurred prior to Argentina’s group-stage fixture against Jordan, when a caller contacted Dallas airport claiming to be en route to the venue with explosives and an AR-15 rifle aimed at the player.
Data suggests Messi faced more of these hostile warnings than any other participant in the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo also experienced security risks, leading to several arrests during the competition. Global law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, maintained a collaborative effort to track and neutralize these threats against prominent athletes throughout the duration of the event.
