In a world where millions of dollars depend on a single kick, footballers are willing to believe in anything to bring them luck.
In football, the whims of Lady Luck have always been of great importance. Many footballers are incredibly superstitious and do not even hide it. From professional leagues to children’s teams, countless athletes believe in superstitions and feel that if certain rituals are not performed before a competition, there is no hope of winning.
Football superstitions are not just the eccentricities of millionaires with a ball. They form a complex psychological system that helps athletes cope with pressure, control their emotions, and create a sense of confidence in an unpredictable game.
From socks to routes: the individual rituals of stars
Classic goalkeeper superstitions
Footballers around the world believe that goalkeepers must touch the goalposts before the game. This ritual is so widespread that it can be seen in any stadium, from children’s playgrounds to the World Cup final.
Goalkeepers also have their own unique traditions:
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They pour water on the goalposts in a specific order.
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They talk to the goalposts before the match.
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They always put on their gloves in a specific order.
Equipment as a good luck charm
Many professional players listen to their favourite music, put on their equipment in a specific order, and repeat the same movements before going out onto the pitch.
The most common superstitions about equipment include:
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Lucky socks: some players wear the same socks throughout a winning streak.
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Order of dressing: first the left boot, then the right, or vice versa.
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Amulets in boots: coins, photographs, religious symbols.
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Colours: avoiding certain colours in everyday life during a tournament.
Just like footballers follow strict pre-match rituals, some online casino players stick to their own routines — for example, always logging in at the same time or using a specific account sequence, like when entering a Revery Play login, believing it brings them luck.
Star examples
The legendary Argentine footballer Lionel Messi uses many rituals in his everyday life. He is known for always stepping onto the pitch with his right foot first and having a special ritual before every penalty kick.
Other notable examples include:
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Sergio Ramos always enters the pitch last on his team.
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Edinson Cavani kisses his tattoo before every goal.
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Gareth Bale listens to the same song before every match.
Team traditions: when ritual becomes culture
Pre-match ceremonies
Team superstitions often turn into real traditions passed down from generation to generation:
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Haka: New Zealand teams perform a traditional war dance, which has also influenced some football clubs.
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Circle of luck: many teams form a circle in the centre of the pitch, holding hands and saying motivational words.
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Ritual songs: from club anthems to secret chants in the dressing room.
The dressing room as a sacred place
After conceding a goal, players avoid kicking the ball into the net again, believing it will happen a second time. Stepping onto the field with the right foot first is also part of a complex system of rules that footballers follow.
Special rules apply in the dressing room
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Each player sits in ‘their’ place.
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The coach gives a speech in a specific corner.
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Balls are laid out in a strictly defined order.
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No one touches another player’s equipment.
Routes and locations
Some teams follow rituals outside the stadium as well:
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Lucky hotel: staying at the same hotel before important matches.
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Route to the stadium: the bus takes the same route.
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Last meal: identical menu before each match.
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Arrival time: arriving at the stadium exactly two hours before the game.
The psychology of superstition: science behind the magic
The placebo effect in sport
Superstitions in football work on the principle of the placebo effect. When a player believes that a certain ritual will bring them luck, their confidence increases, which can actually improve their game.
Key psychological mechanisms
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Control over the unknown: rituals give the player the feeling that they can influence the outcome.
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Reduced anxiety: familiar actions calm the nervous system.
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Focus: performing a ritual helps to concentrate on the game.
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Team spirit: shared traditions strengthen team unity.
When superstitions are harmful
However, there is also a dark side to football rituals:
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Dependency: panic if the ritual cannot be performed.
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Escalation: adding more and more ‘mandatory’ actions.
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Rivalry between superstitions: conflict between individual and team rituals.
Coaches and their systems
Coaches are also not immune to football superstitions:
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Order of instructions: always say the same thing to the team in a specific sequence.
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Place on the bench: occupy a specific position during the match.
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Amulets: wear a specific watch, glasses, or suit during important games.
The strangest superstitions in the world of football
African traditions
African shamans, ritual dances, and sacrifices are used to bless players. Footballers, the dressing room, and even the field (especially near the goal) may be sprinkled with magic powders.
In Zimbabwe, four footballers were disqualified for life simply for urinating in the centre circle before a match, following the instructions of the club's witch doctor.
European oddities
European football is also rich in superstitions:
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In Italy, some clubs invite priests to bless the pitch.
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English teams avoid the number 13 in player numbers.
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Spanish footballers often wear religious medallions.
South American rituals
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Brazil: players pray in front of statues of saints before a match.
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Argentina: the tradition of jumping over the field markings.
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Uruguay: ritual touching of the national flag.
Modernity: technology vs tradition
Digital amulets
Modern footballers adapt old superstitions to new realities:
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Good luck playlists in headphones.
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Happy selfies before the match.
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Social networks: posting at specific times.
Analytics vs intuition
Interestingly, even in the era of Big Data and detailed game analytics, professional footballers continue to rely on superstitions. This creates a unique combination of high technology and primal instincts.
Impact on the result: real or imaginary?
Statistical research
Scientific studies show mixed results:
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Positive effect: 78% of athletes feel more confident after performing a ritual.
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Improved concentration: the ability to focus on the task increases by 15%.
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Team cohesion: shared traditions improve interaction by 23%.
The line between help and harm
The key is balance. Superstitions are useful as long as they:
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Reassure rather than stress.
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Unite the team rather than divide it.
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Help focus rather than distract.
Conclusions: magic, science or just football?
Football superstitions are a complex phenomenon on the borderline between psychology, culture, and sport. They cannot change the laws of physics or guarantee victory, but they can influence the most important element of the game: the human factor.
In a world where the difference between victory and defeat can be a fraction of a second, any psychological tool that helps an athlete perform at their best has a right to exist.
Perhaps the real magic of football lies not in the superstitions themselves, but in how they help ordinary people become heroes on the pitch when it matters most.
The world of football superstitions is a fascinating journey into the psychology of sport, where reality intertwines with magic and science explains fairy tales.
