Lionel Messi latest subject of antisemitic theories, says monitoring group
Soccer icon Lionel Messi has become the latest target of online antisemitic conspiracy theories linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to CyberWell, a nonprofit that monitors and reports antisemitism on social media.
The organization says it identified dozens of World Cup-related posts across Meta platforms and X in English, Arabic and French during the final week of June, with users falsely claiming the football star is Jewish, controlled by Jews or benefiting from alleged Jewish influence over FIFA and the tournament. His career has intersected with Jewish and Israeli culture several times over the years.
The posts form part of a broader wave of antisemitic content exploiting the World Cup’s global audience, alongside longstanding conspiracy theories alleging that Jews secretly control FIFA, governments, the media and world events, CyberWell says.
Many of the posts about Messi invoke the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the notorious antisemitic forgery that falsely claims Jews manipulate world affairs.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/lionel-messi-latest-subject-of-antisemitic-theories-says-monitoring-group/
= new reply since forum marked as read
He is very likely the GOAT in soccer, so of course those desperate to utilize their antisemitism falsely direct it toward him. Of course, even though he is not Jewish, who cares if he were?... 
Go Messi! (Whether Argentina or England wins this PM, I'm just pleased to see him play in what will undoubtedly be his last World Cup).