Fewer than three months after aiding Argentina in securing the World Cup in Qatar, Lionel Messi has been threatened by assailants who opened fire on a supermarket owned by his wife’s family in Rosario, according to the Associated Press.
The occurrence, which transpired on Thursday, resulted in no injuries, while the assailants’ intentions remain ambiguous.
As reported by law enforcement, two individuals on a motorcycle discharged at least 12 rounds into the Unico supermarket and left a note stating, “Messi, we’re waiting for you. [Pablo] Javkin is also a narcotics dealer, so he won’t protect you.”
Javkin, the mayor of Rosario, has since criticized federal officials. He visited the location following the shooting and condemned the ineffectiveness of law enforcement in combating drug-related violence in Argentina’s third-largest city.
At the time of this report, Messi had not yet made any comments and is currently in France, where he plays for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. The team shared images of the player during training on their social media accounts on Thursday.
The Argentine striker received FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award earlier this week and is expected to return home to participate in two friendly matches later this month.
Prosecutor Frederico Rebola mentioned that authorities are analyzing surveillance footage, and investigations are ongoing. He also stated that this marks the first time Messi’s in-laws have faced such threats.
