Is the 2018 World Cup safe? - ISIS threaten to kill Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar

One big question to ask as we prepare for the Russia 2018 FIFA World is this. . .

Is the World Cup going to be safe from terrorism?

A disturbing news that some international terrorist groups are aiming to launch an attack in the next year’s FIFA World Cup is making the round online.


Football fans are already worried as www.dailymail.co.uk on Monday hinted that the terrorist groups have named the trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar as their target at the mundia.

According to the online report, the new Islamic State propaganda threatened with mocked up images of the three ace footballers facing execution or dead.

In one image, a bloodied and bruised Cristiano Ronaldo, is kneeling with a jihadist holding a knife behind him, in the execution pose the world has come to associate with the terrorist group.

The Portuguese star has a black eye and there is a pile of rubble and broken bones in the background.

The poster has a World Cup 2018 logo on the left hand side with the words: ‘Our words are what you see NOT what you hear. So, just you wait. We are WAITING too…’ at the bottom.

Real Madrid and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is depicted in the chilling Islamic State execution pose

Another of the posters shows Messi apparently decapitated while a jihadi holds onto Neymar

As well as the World Footballer of the Year Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar were mocked up for ISIS propaganda photos, which are made and distributed by the pro-IS Wafa Media Foundation.

The images are part of a growing collection of released by the group, who aim their sick output at Westerners.

In one poster Messi appears to have been beheaded while Neymar is depicted on his knees crying, as a terrorist stands beside both with a knife in his hands.

The poster reads: ‘You will not enjoy security until we live it in Muslim lands.’

A third mocked up image shows Messi behind bars with a blood tear coming from his eyes and the words ‘you are fighting a state that does not have failure in its dictionary’ and ‘just terrorism’.

The emergence of that poster came soon after Argentine football chiefs held a meeting with the Russian ambassador over safety fears for Messi.