A Brazilian fan has turned to superstition in an apparent bid to stop Lionel Messi and Argentina from keeping its own FIFA World Cup crown, setting 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 after a convincing 3-0 win over Algeria, inspired by Lionel Messi’s hat-trick.
Messi’s treble brought him level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 goals at the World Cup, leaving the Argentine superstar on the brink of becoming the tournament’s all-time top scorer.
Argentina among the favorites of the tournament
With all 48 nations having played their first matches, Argentina have become 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, Argentina’s dominant performance against Algeria further strengthened the belief that 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 win will put them in a commanding position to finish top of their group.
The Legend of ‘Rocky’s Curse’
The gimmick involving Messi’s jersey is linked to a long-standing Philadelphia superstition known as the “Curse of Rocky”.
According to local folklore, teams that put their colors or jerseys on the iconic statue of Rocky Balboa at the Philadelphia Museum of Art often experience defeat soon after.
The superstition gained notoriety over the years after several teams in various sports reportedly experienced disappointing results after interacting with the statue.
Just a few days before the opening of the World Cup in Ecuador, fans gathered around the monument and dressed it in Ecuadorian colors. The South American side subsequently lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast after conceding a late winner.
Officials joke about a well-known superstition
The legend has become so popular that Pennsylvania tourism officials reportedly issued a humorous warning to teams visiting the city during the tournament.
The warning referred to a “well-documented phenomenon” and jokingly warned participating nations of the risks associated with the Rocky statue.
