Canadian rapper and Grammy Award-winning artiste Drake has suffered another high-profile betting loss after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, costing the music star a wager worth $1.5 million.
The internationally acclaimed entertainer, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, placed the multimillion-dollar bet on defending champions Argentina before the highly anticipated final. The wager was made through the online betting platform Stake, with Drake backing Lionel Messi and his teammates to successfully defend the World Cup title.
According to details of the bet, a victory for Argentina would have earned the rapper a payout of more than $5.1 million, generating a profit of several million dollars. However, Spain’s determined performance denied Argentina the opportunity to retain the trophy, leaving Drake’s prediction unsuccessful and resulting in the loss of his entire stake.
The World Cup final remained evenly contested for much of the match before Spain eventually broke the deadlock during extra time. The decisive goal secured a historic victory for the European side, earning Spain its second FIFA World Cup title and ending Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first nation in decades to successfully defend the prestigious trophy.
Following the result, social media platforms were once again flooded with reactions linking the outcome to the widely discussed phenomenon popularly known as the “Drake Curse.”
The phrase has become a recurring topic among sports fans over the years, referring to the belief that athletes and teams publicly supported by Drake often go on to lose important matches or competitions. Although the theory is widely regarded as an internet meme rather than a factual trend, it continues to gain attention whenever one of the rapper’s high-profile sports predictions proves incorrect.
The latest World Cup final has only added to the growing list of sporting events frequently associated with the so-called curse, prompting football fans around the world to revive discussions across various social media platforms.
Drake has built a reputation for placing substantial wagers on some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including football, basketball, mixed martial arts, American football and boxing. His betting slips, often involving millions of dollars, regularly attract significant public attention because of both the enormous amounts involved and the outcomes of the events.
Earlier in the year, the rapper also experienced disappointment after placing another major wager on former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion Conor McGregor. McGregor failed to secure victory in his bout against Max Holloway, resulting in yet another costly betting setback for the Canadian superstar.
The repeated losses have further strengthened public fascination with the “Drake Curse,” inspiring fans to create dedicated online platforms and social media pages that monitor the rapper’s betting history and sporting predictions.
One such platform tracks Drake’s sports picks and records the results of the teams and athletes he supports, highlighting both his wins and losses while fueling continued debate about whether the trend is merely coincidence or simply a product of internet culture.
Despite the recurring betting losses, Drake remains one of the entertainment industry’s most enthusiastic celebrity sports bettors. His multimillion-dollar wagers continue to generate widespread discussion before major sporting events and often become part of the broader conversation surrounding high-profile competitions.
Although the loss represents another expensive setback, it is unlikely to discourage the global music icon from continuing his tradition of making headline-grabbing bets on some of the biggest sporting occasions around the world.
