A Brazilian supporter has turned to superstition in an apparent bid to stop Lionel Messi and Argentina from retaining their FIFA World Cup crown, placing the Argentina captain’s jersey on Philadelphia’s famous Rocky Balboa statue.
The unusual act comes as Argentina continue to establish themselves as one of the strongest teams at the 2026 World Cup following their convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria, inspired by a Lionel Messi hat-trick.
Messi’s treble moved him level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, leaving the Argentine superstar on the brink of becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Argentina among tournament favourites
With all 48 nations having now played their opening matches, Argentina have emerged as one of the leading contenders for the title alongside France and England.
France opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal, while England defeated Croatia 4-2.
However, it was Argentina’s dominant performance against Algeria that further strengthened belief they could become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup.
Lionel Scaloni’s side now face Austria on June 22, knowing another victory would put them in a commanding position to finish top of their group.
The legend of the ‘Rocky curse’
The stunt involving Messi’s shirt is linked to a long-standing Philadelphia superstition known as the “Rocky curse.”
According to local folklore, teams that place their colours or jerseys on the iconic Rocky Balboa statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art often go on to suffer defeat shortly afterwards.
The superstition has gained a reputation over the years after several teams across different sports reportedly experienced disappointing results after interacting with the statue.
Just days before Ecuador’s opening World Cup match, fans gathered around the monument and dressed it in Ecuadorian colours. The South American side subsequently lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast after conceding a late winner.
Officials joke about famous superstition
The legend has become so popular that Pennsylvania tourism officials reportedly issued a playful warning to teams visiting the city during the tournament.
The advisory referenced the “well-documented phenomenon” and humorously cautioned participating nations about the risks associated with the Rocky statue.