Lucky Charms and Rituals: A Look at Football Superstitions

Footballers are a superstitious lot. More than most, they look for ways to sweeten their fate. And sometimes they do it in the most unusual ways. We have collected some of the most interesting habits and superstitions of famous professional footballers.

Read on, it’ll definitely be interesting!

Cristiano Ronaldo and his absolute reluctance to strike the goals

Cristiano is a something-something.

But even he has his own funny rituals, for example, during the warm-up he runs around like an eagle, passes to opponents, juggles the ball, yet never kicks at goals. He says it’s bad luck because it can prevent him from scoring in a real game.

And you know what else?

He always walks onto the field stepping on his right foot. No other way.

And… you know what else?

It really works, or else he wouldn’t have had such a glittering career.

Neymar: perhaps, the best dad in the entire football?

Neymar is one of the sweetest and most caring footballers out there.

And this is despite the fact that when you first meet him, you might not get the right impression. The thing is, he pays too much attention to his personal life on social media, which makes it seem like he is somewhat mingled.

However, people close to him assure that he’s actually a very, very family-oriented person. Like, he recently became a father again. And before every game, he makes sure to call his father.

Isn’t that touching?

When you’re already cured, but still feel kinda wrong without that very something

Luis Suárez has a lucky charm that seems to work for him.

But he got it in a… rather unusual way.

Back in his Liverpool days, Luis got injured. The doctor fixed his wrist with a special protector (which was blue, by the way) and, surprisingly, Luis managed to score an incredible number of goals during the period when he wore it.

Since then, this protector has become a real amulet for him. Luis believes in it and still goes out on the pitch with his lucky personal assistant on his wrist (which is still blue, by the way).

There are also some less professional behaviors…

Johan Cruyff had a rather unusual belief, which he expressed by spitting chewing gum in the direction of the opposition before every game.

And he did that pretty much every time. And it’s worth mentioning that he often came out on top. However, there was one occasion in 1969 when he forgot about the trademark of his and team suffered not just an offence, but a crushing defeat.

(We aren’t suggesting you copy his behavior!)

Goals: living and breathing

There’s nothing quite like being a goalkeeper on the football pitch. A player in this position is usually on their own for most of the match. At the most crucial moment, they can only be helped by the goal, which they’re standing in front of.

That’s why he forms a special bond with them.

Well, that’s what Iker Casillas does. He touches the crossbar with his left hand every time his team scores a point, and the goals, as if under a spell, answers him in the same way, bringing the good luck.

Okay, but why do they believe all this stuff after all?!

A lot of players and coaches see superstition as a way of dealing with the nerves and uncertainty that come with every match.

Playing at the top tier level is not just about physical exertion – it’s also a huge psychological challenge. Also, football is a team sport – even the most talented players depend on their teammates and a lot of external factors. So, superstitions give players the illusion of control, which helps them to focus on what they can do on the pitch.

What are your thoughts on superstitions and rituals?

And what are your thoughts on superstitions and rituals in high-level sport?

Do you find they help you with your betting activities?

Well, even if they don’t, it’s still cool.

Anyways, if you’re into games with a bit of a risk, be sure to check out these sports betting affiliates.

Disclaimer: The material below isn’t meant to promote betting in any matters. All the info here is for general knowledge and for learning purposes only. And it’s imperative to exercise moderation when playing – that’s the only right way to do things.

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