
A large security file has revealed a series of serious threats that have accompanied the development of the World Cup, where among the possible targets have been the biggest stars of world football, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The document, published by Spanish media, describes several serious security incidents, including bomb threats and attempts to compromise the security of teams and players.
One of the most alarming cases involved the Argentina national team. Before the match against Jordan, a person called the Dallas airport and claimed that he and two others were going to attack the stadium with homemade bombs and firearms. According to reports, the threat maker specifically mentioned Lionel Messi as a target.
Another threat emerged before Argentina's match against Egypt, where a person posted threatening messages on social media claiming he would enter the stadium with explosives strapped to his body to attack Messi.
During one of the matches, another call alerted police, after a person claimed to have planted bombs on the stadium premises. Authorities carried out extensive checks with anti-explosive specialists and trained dogs.
Cristiano Ronaldo has also been involved in a security scare. A FIFA employee raised the alarm after a suspicious person sought information about the Portuguese star's whereabouts during the tournament. In another case, a violent fan managed to enter the hotel where Ronaldo was staying and tried to approach him in the elevator, later claiming he just wanted a photo with him.
The dossier also includes thousands of threats against match officials. Referee François Letexier reportedly received over 6,000 threatening messages on WhatsApp following his decisions in the Argentina-Egypt match, while VAR officials also faced serious threats.
In addition to physical threats, some players faced racist attacks and extreme pressure from fans. Kylian Mbappé was one of the players affected, while other players received threats after mistakes during matches.