World Cup ‘First Match Curse’ Continues as Messi Makes History in 2026
The phenomenon of the “first match curse” in the World Cup continues to capture attention, as teams making their debut in the tournament have failed to secure a victory in their last 17 encounters.
Curse of the First Appearance
Statistics reveal that new entrants to the tournament have recorded four draws and 13 losses since the last win by a first-time participant, which was Senegal’s 1-0 victory over France in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup.
This trend persisted in the 2026 edition, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as teams like Curaçao and Jordan were unable to achieve victory in their first official matches in World Cup history, extending this negative streak.
This situation places additional pressure on teams that will make their debuts in the future, as they strive to break a winless streak that has lasted over 24 years.
Messi Becomes Oldest Player to Score a Hat-Trick
On an individual level, Lionel Messi has once again etched his name into World Cup history by becoming the oldest player to score a hat-trick at age 38 years and 357 days, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous record of three goals at age 33 years and 130 days.
Messi’s hat-trick came against Algeria during a match held early Wednesday at Arrowhead Stadium, as part of Group D of the current tournament.
A poignant moment unfolded during the game when Messi appeared emotional and tearful while celebrating his first goal.
Messi Breaks Legendary Records
According to statistics from Opta, Messi has also shattered Roger Milla’s record to become the oldest player to score a brace in World Cup history. At 38 years and 357 days old, he eclipsed Milla’s achievement, who scored twice at age 38 years and 34 days during the 1990 tournament.
This marks Messi’s sixth consecutive World Cup appearance since his debut in 2006. He famously led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after defeating France in a penalty shootout during the final.
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