Lionel Messi in sick ISIS propaganda poster

ISIS has posted a chilling image of football star Lionel Messi held captive in an orange jumpsuit ahead of the World Cup.

Argentina star Messi is shown kneeling down in the distinctive clothing worn by executed hostages in the terrorist group’s videos.

Beside him is an ISIS fighter grabbing the footballer’s head in the mocked up picture.

The image is the latest to be released by the extremists’ propaganda arm – the Wafa Media Foundation – and is aimed at World Cup host nation Russia.

Thousands of football fans from western nations are expected to attend the tournament which kicks off in June.

In the background of the poster is Moscow’s brand-new Luzhniki Stadium that will host the World Cup final.

Accompanying the confronting imagery is the Koran quotation: “So strike (them) upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip”.

Messi has previously been targeted by ISIS propagandists. An image of his likeness has been shown crying in jail in one material.

The terrorist organisation has also depicted other top footballers Neymar and Ronaldo in similarly chilling images.

Russian has a long history of extremist terrorist attacks – many originating in neighbouring Chechnya.

But last month FIFA expressed confidence in security measures for the World Cup.

“As far as security for the 2018 FIFA World Cup is concerned, FIFA has complete trust in the security arrangements and comprehensive security concept developed by the Russian authorities and the Local Organising Committee," a FIFA spokesman said.