Star to blame for football bankruptcies?
Kardashian curse shreds Lionel Messi
By Anja Rau
03/21/2023 10:44 am
Celebrities are welcome guests in football stadiums. In terms of marketing, this can be exploited for the clubs and the stars, a win-win situation. Unless the celebrity is Kim Kardashian. The reality TV star is now accused of a curious curse.
The grandstands of football stadiums have long since resembled the catwalks and red carpets of celebrities. It sometimes seems that the stars and starlets that show up at the game are more desirable photo objects than the main players on the pitch. In a well-choreographed marketing game, the clubs naturally also benefit from this. Her name comes up when the celebrities are reported on. But for some, the clubs should think twice about whether they are enthusiastic about a visit. Two top clubs had to experience that with Kim Kardashian.
The 42-year-old attended Paris St. Germain’s home game against Stade Rennes with her seven-year-old son Saint West, some of his friends, half-sister Kendall Jenner and other companions. The group was treated courteously by PSG, was allowed on the pitch before the game and was welcomed by the club – in the stadium and on social networks with a video. PSG boss Naser Al-Khelaifi even gave her a jersey with “Kim 1” printed on it. Love was so great – before the game!
Media attention, a bit more bling in the Prinzenpark – actually a win-win situation for both sides. After all, the Parisians had scored 35 out of a possible 39 points at home this season, which is one of the reasons why they are leaders in Ligue 1. PSG had not lost in 35 games in their own stadium across the seasons. The streak lasted more than two years, a total of 735 days.
Messi’s incredible streak is over
But then everything turned out differently for the team coached by Christophe Galtier. 2-0 for Rennes was the final whistle, Karl Toko Ekambi scored in the 45th minute just before half-time, Arnaud Kalimuendo followed up in the 48th minute. Neither Kylian Mbappé nor Lionel Messi could do anything about it. The Argentine world champions had not lost a home game in La Liga since joining PSG from FC Barcelona in August 2021 until the visit of Kim Kardashian.
But of course the players are not to blame for the historic defeat. No, rather Kardashian is held responsible for this. “The Kardashian curse strikes again!” wrote “Marca”, the “Bleacher Report” also pointed to the “Kardashian curse”.
Arsenal are also suffering from Kardashian
Because it was not the first game in which the reality TV star witnessed a surprising bankruptcy in a football stadium. It was only on Thursday that she was a guest with Saint West in Arsenal’s Europa League game against Sporting Lisbon. The round of 16 first leg ended 2-2, so the pressure increased, but hardly anyone really believed that the Portuguese would win. In a penalty shoot-out, however, they overtook the leaders of the English Premier League 5-3.
Before the game, Kardashian had FaceTimed Bukayo Saka and enjoyed a celebrity bonus. The prolific midfielder came on as a substitute in the 65th minute and converted his penalty successfully, but when Gabriel Martinelli was saved by goalkeeper Antonio Adan, Arsenal slipped out of the stadium as losers.
Kardashian, after all, had made a lasting impression in the stands: a picture of her mouthing wide in surprise at the penalty shoot-out went around the world and quickly became a meme. After this game, some Gunners fans blasphemed on social media: Kardashian is to blame for the early international end.
Kardashian excited, fans gossip
Two surprising defeats of the home teams within four days – that hurt PSG and especially Arsenal, who can now “only” become champions. Kardashian still counted the trip as a win. This was also because not only did she call a star at Arsenal, but PSG also gave her this special treatment. The injured Neymar, who is in Brazil after his operation, spoke to her via video call and Mbappé posed for photos and signed autographs. In the photos you can see the bright eyes of the children. Kardashian wrote on an Instagram Story, “It’s safe to say the boys loved our soccer tour! Soccer moms for the win!”
That didn’t go down well with everyone, after all, the fans of the two clubs were in a very bad mood. And talked about the curse that brought them bad luck. But how did they come up with this accusation in the first place? It is said that any man who gets involved with the Kardashian family is unlucky. The ex-husbands of Kim Kardashian and her sisters Khloé and Courtney are cited as evidence. Kanye West, Kim Kardashian’s ex, has even been treated in psychiatry – of course without proof that his wife is to blame.
The Kardashian family isn’t the only one accused of such a curse, by the way. Rapper Drake has also been accused of being unlucky for years. Again and again, teams and stars who showed up with the musician suffered defeats afterwards. But there is also hope for the Kardashian family: Drake’s curse has been broken. At the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, the rapper stood by Argentina – and Messi’s team won against France. Whether Kardashian will show up with her entourage at the German giants’ summit between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund on April 1 is not known.