According to Marca, US police reports revealed security threats against Messi, Ronaldo, and referees during the FIFA World Cup.

A US police report revealed that during the FIFA World Cup where Spain won the championship, the FBI and the International Police Cooperation Center were responsible for eliminating multiple security threats. The most notable among these was a suicide attack threat targeting Messi, who also received the most threats throughout the entire tournament.

Before Argentina's group stage match against Jordan, a man called Dallas Airport, threatening to enter the stadium with two others carrying homemade bombs and an AR-15 rifle, and explicitly stated his intention to kill Messi.

Threats resurfaced before Argentina's Round of 16 match against Egypt. One suspect wrote on social media that he would enter the Atlanta stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs strapped to his body. During the same match, police received another call claiming there were three bombs in several trash cans in the stands. Police then used bomb-sniffing dogs to sweep the entire stadium, eventually confirming it was a false alarm.

Ronaldo encounters security breach

Ronaldo also encountered security issues at the hotel where the Portuguese team was staying. According to police reports, FIFA informed the FBI that a "suspicious man" attempted to obtain "details" about Ronaldo's accommodation. Two days later, Houston police located and arrested the man at the hotel where the Portuguese national team was staying. Another person was arrested in Toronto for a similar incident, where he attempted to slip into an elevator with Ronaldo, claiming he only wanted a selfie with Ronaldo.

6,000 hate messages

Referees also received death threats. French referee François Letexier received over 6,000 hate messages on his personal messaging app after officiating the controversial match between Argentina and Egypt. The video assistant referee for that match, Willy Delajod, experienced the same situation. Due to the threats, security had to be increased for both men's homes and families in France.

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