New Delhi: soccer The world’s most popular sport, attracting millions of people with its excitement, passion and drama, is a sport that, for some footballers, has also come with a dark side – life-threatening risks.
Some top footballers have faced dangerous threats over the past few years, not from rival fans or on-field incidents, but from powerful and dangerous players. Drug cartels,
While most footballers do not face death threats, players who play in or come from countries with high levels of organised crime sometimes become targets due to their fame, wealth or influence.
In some countries, notably Colombia in the 1990s, drug cartels had significant influence over football, which they used to launder money. Athletes from these regions may be more vulnerable to threats from criminal organisations.
Many soccer players in countries such as Brazil and Argentina have security teams to protect them and their families from threats. However, their high-profile status makes them obvious targets.
Without further ado, we will talk about five football stars who faced these horrific threats and the circumstances that led to these terrifying moments.
5. diego maradona (Argentina) — A life entangled with fame and the underworld
Diego Maradona, one of the most iconic footballers in history, was familiar with the world of crime, particularly while playing for Napoli in Italy.
Maradona’s battle with drug addiction became notorious, and at one point, his life was threatened by a terrorist group in Naples. Camorra Mafia,
The powerful mafia in Naples reportedly became involved with Maradona due to his cocaine addiction and his influence in the city. He was threatened by the Naples Camorra mafia due to his drug abuse and debts during his stay in Naples.
Although Maradona survived these dangerous times, his ties to criminal elements highlighted the vulnerability of high-profile athletes to organized crime, particularly when they are dealing with personal demons.
Maradona’s personal conflicts and ties to organised crime in Naples made his career turbulent, leaving him vulnerable to underworld threats.
His later years were filled with contemplation of those turbulent times, although the constant threats and association left a lasting mark on his life.
4. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – A king without a secure castle?
Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players in the world, has tried his best to stay away from controversies. But in 2023, his name got linked to a dangerous criminal world.
Gunmen opened fire at a supermarket owned by Messi’s in-laws in Rosario, Argentina. Although no one was hurt, a threatening note was left at the scene that read: “Messi, we are waiting for you.”
Rosario, once known for its soccer stars, has seen a rise in drug violence, with cartels increasing their control over the city. Messi’s hometown of Rosario has become a hotbed of drug cartel violence, which has even posed a threat to its most famous resident.
Although Messi himself was not directly involved in any criminal activity, the incident highlighted that even global celebrities are not immune to the threats of organised crime.
3. Angel Di Maria (Argentina) – A champion winger targeted off the pitch
Argentina winger Angel Di Maria has found himself at the centre of a dangerous threat amid a rise in drug-related violence in his hometown of Rosario.
A message left at his family’s home, on the outskirts of the city, warns him not to return to Rosario, ominously stating, “Tell your son Angel not to return to Rosario because we will kill a family member.” The threat was made while referring to provincial governor Maximiliano Pullaro, who warned, “We don’t leave paper notes behind. We leave behind bullets and dead people.”
This disturbing incident comes after a similar threat was made to Lionel Messi in 2023, when gunmen attacked a supermarket owned by Messi’s in-laws.
Di Maria, who is currently playing for Benfica, has expressed his desire to retire from his childhood club Rosario Central, but the message has cast doubts over his future plans.
2. Salvador Cabañas (Paraguay) – From extreme pleasure to being targeted in a bar
Salvador Cabañas was at the pinnacle of his career when he suffered a life-changing attack in 2010. The Paraguayan footballer, who was then the star striker for Mexico’s Club America, was shot in the head at close range in a nightclub bathroom.
The shooter was identified as José Jorge Balderas Garza, also known as “El JJ”, a man linked to a Mexican drug cartel.
This horrific incident not only ended Cabañas’ football career, but also became a symbol of the violent intertwining between organized crime and football in Mexico.
The incident took place at a nightclub frequented by athletes, celebrities and drug lords. According to witnesses, a confrontation broke out between the two when Garza asked Cabanas about his recent inability to score goals, after which Garza pulled out a gun and shot the footballer.
Despite the severity of the wound, Cabañas miraculously survived, although the bullet was stuck in his brain. His recovery was remarkable, but his professional football career came to an abrupt end, leaving the sport in shock.
Fourteen years after the attack, new details have emerged about what happened that night. According to crime journalist Carlos Jiménez, security footage and witness testimony showed that Garza was infuriated by Cabañas’ reaction and shot him in a show of power.
1. andres escobar (Colombia) – A suicide goal that ended in tragedy
Perhaps the saddest story in football history is that of Colombian defender Andres Escobar. After scoring an unfortunate own goal in 1994 FIFA World Cup In the match against the United States, Escobar became the scapegoat for Colombia’s early exit from the tournament.
Colombian football in the 1990s was heavily influenced by drug cartels, including Pablo Escobar’s Medellin Cartel, which often used the sport to launder money. Colombia, which was under a lot of pressure to perform, was seen as a dark horse in the competition.
Unfortunately, Escobar’s mistake was not forgiven in his home country. Just days after the team was eliminated, Escobar was shot and killed in Medellin, reportedly by a drug cartel member angry over losing money in a bet.
The brutal murder, linked to Colombia’s notorious drug cartel, shocked the world and underlined the dangerous connection between football and organised crime in that era.
Football has the power to unite people around the world, but for these five athletes, it also led to terrifying encounters with organised crime.
Whether they were directly connected to the cartels or simply targeted because of their fame, these footballers were not immune to the dangerous powers of the underworld.
The stories of Andres Escobar, Lionel Messi, Salvador Cabañas, Angel Di Maria and Diego Maradona are reminders of the risks that come with fame in a world where crime and sport sometimes collide.
Some top footballers have faced dangerous threats over the past few years, not from rival fans or on-field incidents, but from powerful and dangerous players. Drug cartels,
While most footballers do not face death threats, players who play in or come from countries with high levels of organised crime sometimes become targets due to their fame, wealth or influence.
In some countries, notably Colombia in the 1990s, drug cartels had significant influence over football, which they used to launder money. Athletes from these regions may be more vulnerable to threats from criminal organisations.
Many soccer players in countries such as Brazil and Argentina have security teams to protect them and their families from threats. However, their high-profile status makes them obvious targets.
Without further ado, we will talk about five football stars who faced these horrific threats and the circumstances that led to these terrifying moments.
5. diego maradona (Argentina) — A life entangled with fame and the underworld
Diego Maradona, one of the most iconic footballers in history, was familiar with the world of crime, particularly while playing for Napoli in Italy.
Maradona’s battle with drug addiction became notorious, and at one point, his life was threatened by a terrorist group in Naples. Camorra Mafia,
The powerful mafia in Naples reportedly became involved with Maradona due to his cocaine addiction and his influence in the city. He was threatened by the Naples Camorra mafia due to his drug abuse and debts during his stay in Naples.
Although Maradona survived these dangerous times, his ties to criminal elements highlighted the vulnerability of high-profile athletes to organized crime, particularly when they are dealing with personal demons.
Maradona’s personal conflicts and ties to organised crime in Naples made his career turbulent, leaving him vulnerable to underworld threats.
His later years were filled with contemplation of those turbulent times, although the constant threats and association left a lasting mark on his life.
4. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – A king without a secure castle?
Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players in the world, has tried his best to stay away from controversies. But in 2023, his name got linked to a dangerous criminal world.
Gunmen opened fire at a supermarket owned by Messi’s in-laws in Rosario, Argentina. Although no one was hurt, a threatening note was left at the scene that read: “Messi, we are waiting for you.”
Rosario, once known for its soccer stars, has seen a rise in drug violence, with cartels increasing their control over the city. Messi’s hometown of Rosario has become a hotbed of drug cartel violence, which has even posed a threat to its most famous resident.
Although Messi himself was not directly involved in any criminal activity, the incident highlighted that even global celebrities are not immune to the threats of organised crime.
3. Angel Di Maria (Argentina) – A champion winger targeted off the pitch
Argentina winger Angel Di Maria has found himself at the centre of a dangerous threat amid a rise in drug-related violence in his hometown of Rosario.
A message left at his family’s home, on the outskirts of the city, warns him not to return to Rosario, ominously stating, “Tell your son Angel not to return to Rosario because we will kill a family member.” The threat was made while referring to provincial governor Maximiliano Pullaro, who warned, “We don’t leave paper notes behind. We leave behind bullets and dead people.”
This disturbing incident comes after a similar threat was made to Lionel Messi in 2023, when gunmen attacked a supermarket owned by Messi’s in-laws.
Di Maria, who is currently playing for Benfica, has expressed his desire to retire from his childhood club Rosario Central, but the message has cast doubts over his future plans.
2. Salvador Cabañas (Paraguay) – From extreme pleasure to being targeted in a bar
Salvador Cabañas was at the pinnacle of his career when he suffered a life-changing attack in 2010. The Paraguayan footballer, who was then the star striker for Mexico’s Club America, was shot in the head at close range in a nightclub bathroom.
The shooter was identified as José Jorge Balderas Garza, also known as “El JJ”, a man linked to a Mexican drug cartel.
This horrific incident not only ended Cabañas’ football career, but also became a symbol of the violent intertwining between organized crime and football in Mexico.
The incident took place at a nightclub frequented by athletes, celebrities and drug lords. According to witnesses, a confrontation broke out between the two when Garza asked Cabanas about his recent inability to score goals, after which Garza pulled out a gun and shot the footballer.
Despite the severity of the wound, Cabañas miraculously survived, although the bullet was stuck in his brain. His recovery was remarkable, but his professional football career came to an abrupt end, leaving the sport in shock.
Fourteen years after the attack, new details have emerged about what happened that night. According to crime journalist Carlos Jiménez, security footage and witness testimony showed that Garza was infuriated by Cabañas’ reaction and shot him in a show of power.
1. andres escobar (Colombia) – A suicide goal that ended in tragedy
Perhaps the saddest story in football history is that of Colombian defender Andres Escobar. After scoring an unfortunate own goal in 1994 FIFA World Cup In the match against the United States, Escobar became the scapegoat for Colombia’s early exit from the tournament.
Colombian football in the 1990s was heavily influenced by drug cartels, including Pablo Escobar’s Medellin Cartel, which often used the sport to launder money. Colombia, which was under a lot of pressure to perform, was seen as a dark horse in the competition.
Unfortunately, Escobar’s mistake was not forgiven in his home country. Just days after the team was eliminated, Escobar was shot and killed in Medellin, reportedly by a drug cartel member angry over losing money in a bet.
The brutal murder, linked to Colombia’s notorious drug cartel, shocked the world and underlined the dangerous connection between football and organised crime in that era.
Football has the power to unite people around the world, but for these five athletes, it also led to terrifying encounters with organised crime.
Whether they were directly connected to the cartels or simply targeted because of their fame, these footballers were not immune to the dangerous powers of the underworld.
The stories of Andres Escobar, Lionel Messi, Salvador Cabañas, Angel Di Maria and Diego Maradona are reminders of the risks that come with fame in a world where crime and sport sometimes collide.
