Lionel Messi received multiple life threats during the 2026 World Cup

During the 2026 World Cup, law enforcement in the United States investigated several reports of potential attacks on Argentina national team captain Lionel Messi. None of the reported threats were confirmed, and the matches involving the player took place without incidents. This was reported by The Sun citing leaked police materials.

Threats to Messi at the World Cup 2026: what law enforcement investigated

According to the publication, one of the calls came the day before the match between Argentina and Jordan in Dallas. An unknown person claimed there was a supposed armed attack being planned at the stadium, naming Messi as the main target.

Another report concerned a possible attack near the location where the Argentine team was staying. Before the 1/8 final match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, information about explosive devices at the stadium was being checked.

Police and dog handlers searched the arena, but no dangerous items were found. The report turned out to be false. No official information about the detention of suspects in these episodes was provided in the publications.

Security at the World Cup 2026: why Messi was in the zone of particular attention

As the most famous footballer of the Argentine national team, Messi was one of the most recognizable figures of the tournament. According to media reports, law enforcement also monitored threats on social media, where users discussed possible attacks at stadiums.

The World Cup took place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico: 104 matches were hosted by 16 cities. Such a scale required separate control not only at the arenas but also in fan zones, hotels, transportation, and at stadium entrances.

Reports of threats did not escalate into real attacks. At the same time, these episodes highlighted how complex the security is for large sporting events, where risks arise not only during matches.

It should be noted that Lionel Messi scored a double in the second round match of the 2026 World Cup against Austria, which ended with a score of 2:0 in favor of Argentina. This performance allowed Messi to set several records recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.