Superstitious Football Players and the Rituals They Practice

Considering the intense pressure and high stakes of a football match, players will always try to do anything to increase their chances of winning. And if it means relying on superstitions, football players’ pre-game rituals don’t seem that odd anymore, especially when the stakes are high, like in a final championship match.

In the history of football, many players were known for following a specific ritual pre-match or even in training. Today’s feature will be all about introducing those famous stars and their superstitious practices. Let’s get started. 

Top 10 Unusual Superstitions of Football Players

To keep it short and simple, we’ve ranked ten famous footballers’ superstitions known among football fans. We’re going to check out players that have already retired and even some active ones today. So, without any further ado, let’s get right to it. 

Cristiano Ronaldo

Arguably the best football player ever, Cristiano Ronaldo, also maintains some superstitious rituals. Players from his club have noticed regularly that he always enters the field with his right foot first, crosses himself pre-game, and wears the same pair of socks for a run of contests. 

He’s also the first player on the team to disembark from the plane every time without fail. Besides these, he always carries an old Portuguese coin with him. When asked in an interview, he said that his grandfather gave him that coin, and it’s his lucky charm. 

Pele

Given Pele’s talent, you would never think he was one to believe in football superstitions. But there was a season when he felt that his form was suffering because he’d given away a particular jersey to a fan. He sought help to recover it, and when he got his hands on it again, supposedly, his form improved. 

However, the funny thing is that the jersey was his own from a match played the previous day. It shows how strong the power of footballers’ superstitions truly is. 

Phil Jones

One of the most famous players known for his superstitions was Phil Jones. The Manchester United defender had a unique way of putting on his socks, depending on the fixtures. For home matches, he’d always put on the left sock first and the right one if it was an away match. 

Luis Suarez

In almost every match, fans have always noticed Suarez wearing bandages on his right wrist. Even though there’s nothing wrong with his hand, he still wears it as a lucky charm. On the weirdness scale, it’s one of the most unusual superstitions out there.

If you look carefully, you’ll notice this to be the case with full-sleeved kits as well. Suarez also has a weird habit of smelling the tattoos on his arms as he considers doing it will bring him good luck.

Johan Cruyff

Another legend that was known for his strange superstitious rituals was Johan Cruff. He would always do two things at the start of every match. He’d slap his goalkeeper in the stomach and then walk over to the opponent’s side of the pitch to spit his chewing gum.

He believed in this so much that one time, he’d gone to spit his gum only to realize that he’d forgotten to take one. In that match, the team suffered a humiliating 1-4 defeat. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The Swedish superman, Zlatan, has always been a player with outstanding physical performance, as he scores pretty often for his team.  He has always been in a different league in this regard. But he, too, has his own beliefs regarding football superstitions and rituals. To ensure he’s in the best possible shape for a match, he avoids any sexual activity with his wife. 

Once, he had too much fun the night before, which led to an awful performance where he could hardly score a goal. So there must be some truth to it. 

David Beckham

One of the things that you probably did not know Beckham had was an obsessive-compulsive disorder. This led to him being one of the superstitious sports players, where he would arrange everything in his refrigerator before we set out for a match. Beckham had this obsession to ensure everything was in the right place; otherwise, he felt it would affect him in his match. 

Cesc Fabregas

Another one on the list of superstitious football players is Cesc Fabregas. He would kiss a ring from his wife four times and put it in his locker before every match. He did it four times because that was his lucky number. He’d only set foot on the pitch having done this ritual.

Being a crucial player for the Chelsea squad, the pressure was always on him to perform well. This superstition was a big part of that, as it would act as a confidence booster to help him perform well in the match. 

John Terry

If there was ever a footballer who had a horde of superstitions in football throughout his career, it was John Terry. He had over 50 different superstitious things that he believed in. He’d always sit in the same spot on the bus. He even had a pair of lucky shin guards that he wore for more than ten years!

Gareth Bale

Gareth was known for having a handful of superstitious rituals that would help him avoid injuries in the game. He’d always cut a hole in his socks pre-match because he thought it would alleviate some of the pressure from his calves during the game. Bale also always came to matches in his Lamborghini because he felt it was better for his legs. 

Wrapping up

Even some greats you thought were gifted from birth believe in some weird stuff. While it’s funny, seeing the power of superstitions in action for these athletes is also enjoyable. At the end of the day, if it delivers results, there’s no harm in it. Want to get more interesting facts about your favorite players? Then read the article about top 10 football players for the number of goals from set pieces.

FAQ

Do Superstitious Practices Help Players Win a Match?

While no proven records exist, players who believe in such things still do it. It is a confidence booster for them and allows them to make riskier plays without doubting themselves. 

Can Superstitions Become Problematic for Players?

In some cases, superstitions can become overly restrictive or disruptive. Sometimes, it can hamper a player’s ability to focus or perform effectively.