Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:03am on 08 Aug 2026,Saturday Sports
Argentina captain Lionel Messi reportedly faced serious security threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a police dossier cited by News18. One post reportedly said, “I’m going to walk into the Atlanta stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs stuck in my body.” Security teams searched the Atlanta venue after another caller claimed bombs had been placed in garbage bins. Authorities also tracked threats against players, officials and their families. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo also faced security concerns during the tournament. French referee François Letexier reportedly received more than 6,000 threatening WhatsApp messages. (PC: AP)