Lionel Messi allegedly encountered several dangers while competing in the 2026 World Cup, according to sources.

Lionel Messi, Argentina's forward #10, was the focus of jubilation as his team scored their third goal, courtesy of midfielder #24 Enzo Fernandez, during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match against Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026.

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A series of bomb threats allegedly targeted Messi throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which took place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, according to a report by Spanish newspaper MARCA.

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A police report cited by MARCA revealed that security agencies probed multiple threats against the Argentine captain, including one made shortly before the Round of 16 match against Egypt, in which a suspect posted a threat on social media.

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The social media threat stated, “I’m going to blow up Messi with four bombs strapped to my body,” prompting security officials to conduct a thorough search of the Atlanta stadium with sniffer dogs.

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The search was initiated after investigators received separate reports that explosives had been placed in bins around the venue, but it ultimately yielded no explosives, and officials determined that the alert was a false alarm.

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Another threat allegedly emerged before Argentina’s group-stage game against Jordan, with a man calling Dallas airport to claim that he and two accomplices were travelling to the stadium with homemade bombs and an AR-15 rifle, specifically naming Messi as their target.

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Messi reportedly received more threats than any other player during the tournament, while Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was also targeted, with several people arrested over separate threats against him during the competition.

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The FBI and other international law enforcement agencies collaborated to monitor and respond to threats involving high-profile players throughout the World Cup, according to the report.