{"id":2049876,"date":"2026-07-18T13:42:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T10:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2049876"},"modified":"2026-07-18T13:42:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T10:42:27","slug":"the-new-jersey-curse-the-secret-test-that-haunts-lionel-messi-at-the-world-cup-final-stadium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2049876","title":{"rendered":"The New Jersey curse: The secret test that haunts Lionel Messi at the World Cup final stadium"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_main_microformat\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.jpeg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"ue-c-article\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__header \">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header-content ue-l-article--expand-right-full-from-tablet ue-l-article--expand-right-half-from-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-group\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-container\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker\">World Cup<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"ue-c-article__headline js-headline js-headlineb \">The New Jersey curse: The secret test that haunts Lionel Messi at the World Cup final stadium<\/h1>\n<p class=\"ue-c-article__standfirst\">The captain of the Argentine national team returns to the exact scene where he experienced the darkest and most heartbreaking night of his entire sporting career<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__body\" data-section=\"articleBody\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column ue-l-article--minimum-content-from-tablet\">\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--image ue-c-article--media-icon-m-from-phablet ue-l-article--expand-left-full-from-tablet ue-c-article__media--main-media\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-img-container ue-l-article--expand-edge-right-until-tablet ue-l-article--expand-edge-left-until-tablet\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1010px) 660px, (min-width: 980px) calc(100vw - 350px), (min-width: 740px) calc(100vw - 320px), 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_360_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.webp 360w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_375_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.webp 375w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_414_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.webp 414w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_660_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.webp 660w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_720_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.webp 720w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_750_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.webp 750w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_828_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.webp 828w,https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_1320_widen_webp\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.webp 1320w\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">Lionel Messi.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar has-avatar ue-c-article__bar--horizontal-from-tablet\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-body\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__byline ue-l-article--grow-from-desktop\" aria-label=\"Redacci\u00f3n:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__byline-item\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__byline-name\">\n                                IV\u00c1N CAMILO CASTIBLANCO\n                    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__publishdate\" aria-label=\"Fecha de publicaci\u00f3n\"><span>Updated <\/span><time datetime=\"2026-07-18T13:42:27Z\">                            18\/07\/2026<br \/>\n        &#8211;<br \/>\n        <span>08:42<abbr title=\"Central Daylight Time\">CDT<\/abbr><\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-secondary ue-u-hide-until-tablet ue-l-article--leftcol-width-from-tablet ue-l-article--float-left-from-tablet-no-margin ue-l-article--move-to-leftcol-from-tablet ue-u-sticky-top-80\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools  ue-c-article__share-tools--direction-column js_socialMedia\" aria-label=\"Compartir art\u00edculo en Redes Sociales\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--facebook\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Facebook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--twitter\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Twitter<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--telegram\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Telegram<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Whatsapp<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--email\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir por Mail<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles ue-l-article--width-1of2-from-mobile ue-l-article--width-1of3-from-desktop ue-l-article--float-right-from-mobile ue-c-article__subtitles--boxed\" aria-label=\"Contenido relacionado\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item  \"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\">World Cup\u00a0 <\/span>Spain&#8217;s drastic and unexpected plan to stop Lionel Messi in the final<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item  \"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\">World Cup\u00a0 <\/span>The shocking future that awaits Mauricio Pochettino after USMNT&#8217;s painful elimination from the World Cup<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__body\">\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph ue-c-article--first-letter-highlighted\">The captain of the Argentine national team returns to the exact scene where he experienced the darkest and most heartbreaking night of his entire career. Ten years after that fateful cry that paralyzed the football world, destiny presents him with the ultimate challenge.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">The <strong>2026 World Cup<\/strong> final between Argentina and Spain not only represents the perfect opportunity to crown a golden generation. Off the pitch, expectations are sky-high due to the enormous historical weight surrounding the stars of both teams. For <strong>Lionel Messi<\/strong>, in particular, the match at <strong>MetLife Stadium<\/strong> in New Jersey carries immense and extremely complex emotional weight.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--video  video-player\"><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">Thomas M\u00fcller can&#8217;t believe England&#8217;s tactics against Argentina: &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand it&#8221;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">This imposing stadium holds the most painful memory in the career of the Rosario native. According to a report published by Goal.com, the Argentine number ten returns to the pitch where he completely broke down, something never before seen in public, reopening an old wound that seemed to have healed.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ue-c-article__subheadline\">The night the number ten broke down<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">To understand the origin of this footballing trauma, it&#8217;s necessary to go back to the <strong>Copa Am\u00e9rica Centenario<\/strong> final held in 2016. On that occasion, Argentina faced Chile in an extremely tense penalty shootout that ended in the worst possible way for the Argentinian team.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Messi missed his penalty kick, and the Chilean team ended up being crowned champions, leaving the Argentine captain in a deep crisis. Television cameras captured heartbreaking images of the player crying inconsolably on the substitutes&#8217; bench in this very stadium, completely devastated by the frustration.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">The sadness was so profound that, at the end of the match, a visibly shaken Messi announced his definitive retirement from the national team to the microphones. &#8220;It&#8217;s over for me with the national team, I&#8217;ve tried so hard,&#8221; were the devastating words that resonated throughout the country and set off alarm bells in the world of football.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ue-c-article__subheadline\">The emotional rescue of Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">That drastic resignation generated a strong social impact in Argentina, triggering a massive campaign of pleas for him to reverse his decision. Among the millions of fans who expressed their support was an anonymous teenager of just 15 years old who played in the youth divisions of River Plate.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">That young man was none other than <strong>Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez<\/strong>, who today shares the national team&#8217;s midfield with his idol. Moved by the pain of seeing the best player in the world retire, the current Chelsea midfielder decided to write and publish an emotional open letter on his social media with the sole purpose of bringing him back.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">&#8220;Do whatever you want, Lionel, but please think about staying. Stay to have fun, which is what these people have taken from you,&#8221; read the heartfelt lines written by the midfielder. The text, which has gone viral again ahead of Sunday&#8217;s match, apologized to Leo on behalf of the incomprehension of an entire nation.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ue-c-article__subheadline\">The return to the scene of trauma<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">A decade after that heartbreaking episode, life and football have brought the paths of both players together again under ideal circumstances. From pleading with him not to leave via the internet, Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez has become one of the fundamental pillars protecting the captain on the pitch.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">International media outlets like DAZN highlight the incredible poetic narrative behind this World Cup final. Messi returns to MetLife Stadium not to say goodbye in the shadows, but to try to settle the only score he had left on North American soil.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Lionel Scaloni&#8217;s men arrive at this final stage with their spirits soaring after overcoming tough obstacles throughout the international tournament. However, the mental aspect will play a crucial role as they step onto the pitch that once witnessed the tears and frustration of the world&#8217;s best player.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ue-c-article__subheadline\">The ultimate rematch against Europe<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">This time, their opponent will be the Spanish national team, a rival Messi knows perfectly well thanks to his glorious years wearing the Barcelona jersey. Analysts from ESPN assure us that this match has all the ingredients to become the perfect end to an era.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">The anticipation worldwide is absolute, and the eyes of fans will be fixed on the Argentine star&#8217;s every move during the pre-match warm-up. The mystique surrounding the New York stadium adds an extra layer of pressure and drama to ninety minutes that promise to be unforgettable.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Football always offers a second chance, and Lionel Messi has a real opportunity to transform the worst memory of his life into the greatest joy of his career. Along with Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez and the rest of his teammates, he will seek to ensure that MetLife Stadium is finally remembered as the place of his eternal consecration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"taboola-art-mid-script\" data-ue-is-premium=\"false\" data-ue-is-basic=\"true\" data-ue-is-mobile=\"false\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__tags-container\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__tags\" aria-label=\"Etiquetado como:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">FIFA World Cup<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Lionel Messi<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Argentina National Football Team<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news \" aria-label=\"Art\u00edculos relacionados\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">World Cup <\/span>Spain&#8217;s drastic and unexpected plan to stop Lionel Messi in the final<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">World Cup <\/span>Stephen Curry makes his prediction for the World Cup final and explains the reasoning behind it<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">World Cup <\/span>Lionel Messi finally breaks silence on epic Lamine Yamal baby bath photo: &#8220;It&#8217;s craziness&#8221;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-popular-links js-featured-links ue-c-popular-links--closed\">\n<ul class=\"list ue-c-popular-links__list hidden-content\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">NFL News<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">Cowboys News<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.marca.com\/en\/world-cup\/2026\/07\/18\/the-new-jersey-curse-the-secret-ordeal-that-haunts-lionel-messi-at-the-stadium-of-the-grand-final.html&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_main_microformat\/uploads\/2026\/07\/18\/6a5b81532d2ac.jpeg&#8221;] World Cup The New Jersey curse: The secret test that haunts Lionel Messi at the World Cup final stadium The captain of the Argentine national team returns to the exact scene where he experienced the darkest and most heartbreaking night of his entire sporting career Lionel Messi. IV\u00c1N CAMILO CASTIBLANCO Updated 18\/07\/2026 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,45],"class_list":["post-2049876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-marca-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2049876"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049876\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2049876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2049876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2049876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}