Lionel Messi was reportedly placed at the centre of a frightening security scare during the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, after a leaked report exposed alleged terror plots, bomb threats and death warnings targeting the Argentina captain.
The explosive security document revealed how law enforcement agencies battled a series of threats involving football stars, referees and tournament venues before and during the competition.
The report, obtained by Spanish outlet Informacion.es and cited by The Sun, claimed Messi was one of the biggest targets of the alleged threats.
Ahead of Argentina’s match against Jordan, authorities reportedly received a chilling phone call from a man claiming he and two accomplices would storm the stadium with hand grenades and an AR-15 rifle.
The caller allegedly threatened to attack police officers and players from both teams — and specifically vowed to kill Messi.
The security scare reportedly followed Argentina into their next fixture against Egypt.
Investigators were said to have uncovered a post on X by a suspect who allegedly threatened to enter the Atlanta stadium with four explosive devices strapped to his body and detonate them near Messi.
The tension reportedly reached another level during the match after police received a warning that three bombs had been planted inside rubbish bins at the stadium.
A massive security operation was launched, with bomb disposal experts and explosive-sniffing dogs deployed before the venue was declared safe.
Ronaldo Also Caught In Security Storm
Cristiano Ronaldo was also reportedly caught up in the security concerns surrounding the tournament.
The leaked file claimed FIFA officials alerted authorities after a suspicious individual sought information about the Portuguese star’s location and hotel details.
In another incident, a fan allegedly broke through hotel security and attempted to enter an elevator with Ronaldo before later telling police he only wanted a selfie.
Referees Bombarded With Threats
Match officials also became targets of angry reactions.
French referee François Letexier reportedly received more than 6,000 threatening WhatsApp messages after officiating Argentina’s clash with Egypt.
VAR official Willy Delajod was also allegedly hit with death threats from furious supporters.
Other players reportedly suffered similar abuse after key moments went against their teams.
Norway striker Alexander Sorloth and his wife allegedly received death threats after he failed to pass the ball to Erling Haaland during their quarter-final defeat to England.
Colombian midfielder Jhon Jáminton Campaz was also reportedly threatened after missing a decisive penalty, with security concerns preventing him from travelling back with his teammates.
The revelations have revived memories of the tragic killing of Colombian defender Andrés Escobar, who was murdered in 1994 after scoring an own goal at the World Cup in the United States.
Mbappé, South Korea Hit By Fan Fury
The leaked report also exposed cases of fan violence and abuse beyond the pitch.
Following Paraguay’s defeat to France, supporters reportedly burned an effigy carrying Kylian Mbappé’s name, while the French forward was allegedly targeted with racist chants and offensive remarks.
South Korea’s delegation was reportedly placed under tighter security after their early exit from the tournament, while coach Hong Myung-bo faced public anger over his appointment.
England’s media centre also suffered a security breach after a man allegedly entered the facility carrying a wrench before security officials intervened.
With threats mounting, tournament organisers reportedly turned venues into heavily guarded zones, deploying armed police, concrete barriers, anti-sniper screens and no-fly zones.
The leaked report paints a picture of a tournament played under intense security pressure, with authorities racing to protect football’s biggest names from alleged terror attacks, bomb scares and targeted threats.
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