World Cup 2026: Chiqui Tapia rejoins 'lucky photo' ritual with Messi and De Paul before Argentina's debut

Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), reignited a pre-match tradition by sharing a photograph with football stars Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul. The image was posted on his official social media channels just before Argentina's opening match against Algeria in the 2026 World Cup.

This ritual, which includes sharing mate, had become less common in recent months, possibly due to widespread accusations against Tapia and certain AFA management practices that are currently under judicial review. Messi, in particular, had opted out of sharing such images, despite maintaining a good relationship with Tapia. De Paul, however, has consistently remained close to the AFA president.

The return of this "good luck charm" photo signifies a resumption of a tradition that was prominent during the successful tenure of coach Lionel Scaloni. The team is hours away from their World Cup debut in Group J, facing Algeria. This tradition is deeply respected within the Argentine national team, having been part of their triumphs, including the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2022 Finalissima.

Tapia, who has faced significant criticism domestically and oversees a Professional League often mired in controversy, is participating in his third World Cup as AFA president since March 2017. His presidency began after a brief period under a "Normalizing Committee." He took charge following the tenure of Luis Segura, who had replaced the long-serving Julio Grondona after his death. Tapia's World Cup journey started with the chaotic Russia 2018 tournament under Jorge Sampaoli. He later placed his trust in Scaloni, who had been a collaborator, to bring continuity to the team.

In his third World Cup, Tapia aims to break a personal streak: Argentina has not won its opening match in any World Cup since his arrival. They drew 1-1 with Iceland in Russia and lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in the last edition. The reappearance of this "trinity" in a shared image, accompanied by Tapia's caption "ALL TOGETHER" and a quote about dedicating his life to his flag, has generated diverse reactions online.

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ALL TOGETHER