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Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team are gearing up for a monumental World Cup final against Spain, but their preparations have been overshadowed by an unusual concern. Canadian rapper Drake has placed a massive bet on the Albiceleste to retain their world title, sparking anxiety among fans who fear the return of the notorious 'Drake curse'.

Drake has doubled down on his support for Argentina, wagering an extraordinary $1.5 million on them to win within regulation time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Should Messi’s side triumph in 90 minutes, the rapper stands to collect an estimated payout of around $5.1 million. Although Drake’s faith in the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is clear, many Argentine supporters have expressed unease, given his reputation for jinxing teams he publicly backs.

The so-called 'Drake curse' has become a well-known superstition in the sports world, suggesting that any team or athlete the rapper publicly supports tends to lose soon after. Argentina’s fans are particularly wary because of Drake’s recent streak of betting misfortunes. Earlier this year, he reportedly lost $1 million when the New England Patriots were defeated by the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. He also lost another $300,000 after betting on Jannik Sinner to beat Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.

Drake’s betting record beyond football has been similarly inconsistent. Reports from Marca indicate that his total losses from football bets alone have exceeded $1.9 million. A website dedicated to tracking his public wagers, TheDrakeCurse, currently lists his strike rate at only 36.8% across nearly 90 major bets, further fuelling the mystique surrounding his supposed bad luck.

However, Argentina might take some comfort from the fact that Drake once benefited from backing them. During the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, he reportedly won $1 million after correctly predicting Argentina’s victory over France, though the match ultimately went to penalties. This historic success could serve as a good omen for Lionel Scaloni’s side as they chase back-to-back titles.

Despite the talk of superstition, Argentina’s focus remains firmly on their performance. Messi has already brushed off earlier claims of bad luck, including the so-called 'IShowSpeed curse' that circulated earlier in the tournament after the streamer attended one of their matches. The team remains determined to let their skill and strategy, rather than superstition, decide the outcome.

As anticipation builds for the final, the contest is being billed as a symbolic clash of generations. Messi, now leading Inter Miami, will come up against Spain’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, whose dazzling performances have caught global attention. Spain’s formidable defence, combined with a core built around Barcelona talent, ensures that the challenge will be formidable.

Should Argentina succeed, they would become only the third nation in football history to win consecutive World Cups, a feat that would further elevate Messi’s legendary status and silence any remaining doubts about his place among the game’s greatest ever players.