Argentina using 'sinister' superstition at Copa America as Lionel Messi's two pre-match rituals revealed

From eating caramel candy in the centre circle before kick-off to bringing a Chucky doll to this summer's Copa America, Argentina might well be the most superstitious national team in world football.

Lionel Scaloni's side booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Copa America on Wednesday as a late strike from Lautaro Martinez sealed all three points against Chile.

Argentina have recorded victories in both of their group games as they prepare to face Peru at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday.

But they've needed a slice of luck on their way to the quarters, which brings us on nicely to their list of weird and wonderful superstitions.

As mentioned earlier, caramel candies have become a routine for some members of the squad. La Albiceleste midfielders Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes and Alejandro Gomez started eating the sweets at the quarter-final stage of the 2021 Copa America.

They continued that trend before every game until the final against Brazil, where they lifted their fifteenth Copa America title and first since 1993. In fact, they were recently spotted chomping the treats ahead of their opener against Canada on June 21.

Another superstition involves Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia – and it's one that has been described as having a 'sinister feeling to it' by The Athletic.

Earlier this month, fans noticed that a Chucky doll was sat behind Tapia as he posed next to three members of Argentina’s staff and Exequiel Palacios inside a hotel room in Atlanta.

The picture posted to Instagram received a ton of comments about the Chucky doll from fans of the horror film Child’s Play, but it turns out it has travelled with the Argentina squad since that successful Copa America tournament in 2021.

Ahead of the competition in Brazil, Tapia expressed his concern when one of Argentina’s kit men, Juan Cruz, brought the Chucky doll to the Argentina dressing room after his son [nicknamed Chucky] gave him it as a good luck charm.

Of course, they went on to win the tournament, meaning Chucky remains an integral part of the matchday experience. In fact, some members of staff celebrated their recent success with a Chucky tattoo.

Image credit: Instagram/chiquitapia

Lionel Messi is also known for his superstitious nature, especially with the national team squad.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has a drink with teammate and close friend Rodrigo De Paul at exactly 9:30am inside Messi's hotel room, although De Paul has been late once.

“It wasn’t 9.15, 9.20 or 10 minutes before 10 in the morning,” De Paul told AFA Studio. “One day I slept in and arrived at 10. You should’ve seen (Messi’s) face.”

Back in 2022, at the World Cup in Qatar, Messi invited another close friend, Sergio Aguero, to stay in his room ahead of the final against France.

Aguero, who was an ever-present figure in camp, scored and even saved a penalty when he took part in Argentina training ahead of their historic win.