Corinthians website briefly sparks Messi transfer shock after cyber attack

A cyber attack on Corinthians’ official website led to the publication of a fake announcement claiming that Lionel Messi would join the Brazilian club from 2027.

The fabricated statement said the Inter Miami player had agreed to move to Corinthians and included supposed details of the deal, as well as comments attributed to Messi about his happiness at the prospect of playing in Brazilian football.

The hackers also published fictional financial information intended to explain how Corinthians could afford a transfer involving the former Barcelona star, despite the high cost such an agreement would represent.

The announcement was removed shortly after it appeared. Corinthians replaced it with a notice saying the website was undergoing maintenance after supporters were surprised by the news.

In an official statement, Corinthians confirmed that its digital platforms had been targeted in a cyber attack. The club said its information technology team had contained the breach quickly and that there had been no financial losses or exposure of the organisation’s data or private information.

As a precaution, Corinthians said it would strengthen the security protocols protecting its online platforms. The club’s official website and the website for its stadium, Neo Quimica Arena, were also taken offline temporarily for technical checks before being restored.

The incident came only a few hours after Corinthians beat Mirassol 2-0 in the 33rd round of the Brazilian league. Despite the victory, the result was not enough to lift the club out of the relegation zone, with Corinthians remaining among the bottom four teams in the table.

The incident was also reported as part of a wider run of cyber attacks involving the two major clubs in Sao Paulo. The official website of Palmeiras, Corinthians’ historic rivals, had been targeted in a similar attack a few days earlier.

The false Messi announcement appeared alongside fixture information involving the clubs. Inter Miami were listed to face New England Revolution in MLS on 01 November 2026, while Corinthians were listed for a Brazilian league fixture in Sao Paulo on 04 November 2026.