Why is Lionel Messi crying blood? This chilling ISIS poster will make you shudder

football

Updated: Oct 25, 2017 15:18 IST

A doctored image of Argentina and Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi, where he is seen crying blood, has been released by a propaganda cell of terror group ISIS in a fresh threat to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

“You are fighting a state that does not have failure in its dictionary,” reads a message on the poster accompanying an image on Messi crying blood behind bars.

Pro-#ISIS media unit Wafa' Foundation continues to threaten 2018 FIFA #WorldCup, this time using an image of #LionelMessi in a prison outfit pic.twitter.com/isB8RDKYAK — SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) October 24, 2017

The poster was released by a pro-ISIS media group called Wafa Media Foundation. It was discovered by the think tank SITE Intelligence Group, which tweeted the poster on Tuesday.

The poster also mocks Nike’s ‘Just do it’ catchphrase by replacing the words with ‘Just Terrorism’ below the Messi image.

Threats to next summer’s World Cup in Russia have previously been made by propaganda groups affiliated to the terror outfit.

ISIS had previously claimed responsibility for setting off a bomb outside the Stade de France on the night of the Paris terror attacks. France were hosting Germany in a friendly at the time of the blast.

The terror group had also threatened to disrupt the 2016 European Championships as well as the 2017 Women’s European Championships. Both tournaments, however, were safely conducted under heavy security cover.