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New York’s stadium is cursed for Lionel Messi and Argentina: a story that repeated itself
Lionel Messi returned to a venue that holds some of the most intense moments of his career with Argentina. Ten years after an unforgettable night, the outcome once again brought an unsettling coincidence to light.
The memory that began ten years ago
The venue that hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup final appears to have a particularly complicated relationship with Argentina’s captain.
New York New Jersey Stadium, also known as MetLife Stadium, is where Messi has experienced moments of glory, but also some of the deepest disappointments of his career.
To find the origin of the supposed “curse,” it is necessary to go back to the 2016 Copa América Centenario final.
Argentina faced Chile at the same stadium, and the match ended goalless after regulation time and extra time. The winner had to be decided through a penalty shootout.
Messi was one of the Argentine players who missed from the spot, and Chile ultimately lifted the trophy.
Is there really a curse for Messi?
The word “curse” is part of the language surrounding soccer and its coincidences, but the history is difficult to ignore.
At the New York stadium, Messi went from scoring three goals against Brazil to losing two of the most important finals of his career with Argentina.
The defeat against Spain does not erase the titles won by the captain or change his place in history, but it did leave behind a remarkable statistic: every time he played an official final at that venue, he ended up watching the opposing team lift the trophy.
