Lionel Messi threatened by ISIS ahead of World Cup

- Lionel Messi has come under threat from ISIS ahead of the World Cup
- Disgusting images of Neymar and Ronaldo have also been released
- The World Cup will begin in Russia from June 14 to July 15

Argentina star Lionel Messi has been threatened ahead of this summer's World Cup by Islamic terrorist sect ISIS as they posted a picture of him being held captive by a jihadi.

The image has been released by Wafa Media Foundation known as the Islamic State mouthpiece and is the latest in a series of sick messages aimed at football fans.

In the released image, Messi is seen kneeling down in an orange jumpsuit, like those worn by prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and in ISIS execution videos.

A solider dressed in ISIS clothing grabbing his head in the mocked up picture where the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow is shown at the background.

The state of the art will host seven matches including the opening game Russia vs Saudi Arabia, Portugal vs Morocco, Denmark vs France, Germany vs Mexico, along with a round of 16 match, semi-final and the showpiece final on 16 July.

The disgusting imagery has the Quran quote along with it that said,'"So strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip"is printed. This is not the first time the Barcelona star has been targeted by the terrorist network having had his likeness shown crying blood in a prison.

Argentine football chiefs held a meeting with the Russian ambassador over safety fears over that picture.

In another image distributed Messi appeared headless while Neymar was pictured on his knees crying, as a terrorist stood next to both with a knife in his hands.

Cristiano Ronaldo was not speared as another image had him with a black eye and his hands tied behind his back on his knees in the foreground.

A masked executioner standing behind him holding up a knife, the pair atop rubble and broken bones.

An image posted last year shows the World Cup symbol next to a masked man holding a sub machine with the text'Wait for Us'.