Argentina's Messi invited to 'join jihadist call' by ISIS

The quick-footed star of the Argentinian national team has a new biggest fan - the violent Sunni extremist group currently wreaking havoc in the Middle East.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Messi gets support from every corner of the world (photo credit: REUTERS)
Messi gets support from every corner of the world
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Following Argentina's crushing defeat of Iran during stoppage time in Sunday's World Cup game, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) issued an intivitation to the South American team's star Lionel Messi to "join the jihadist call," the Washington Post reported.
According to the report, a Twitter account associated with the extremist group tweeted a message congratulating Messi on the game-winning goal and invited him to join their cause.
After holding their ground the entire game, World Cup underdog Iran lost to the heavyweight South American team, though Iranians celebrated their team's strong performance regardless.
Despite being neighbors, the Iraq and Syria-based extremist Sunni militant group is no friend of Iran - a Shiite theocratic state - or its national soccer team.
ISIS has been violently sweeping through the north of Iraq in an attempt to gain control of the country, leaving at least 1,000 people dead in their wake in the last month alone, according to the UN.
ISIS has also broadcast dozens of videos showing cruel treatment, beheadings and shootings of combat soldiers, police officers, and people apparently targeted because of their religion or ethnicity.
Tehran has stepped up its support for the Shiite government in Baghdad and is reportedly helping mobilize and train Shiite security forces against ISIS, according to the Post.