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Humans are often driven by certain beliefs, regardless of religious connotations or sentiments. For athletes, these beliefs are further amplified, especially with global media coverage.
The widely held yet irrational belief in supernatural influences—especially those tied to good or bad luck—has led footballers to adopt peculiar rituals, such as chewing gum to blow bubbles before stepping onto the pitch or hopping on one leg while exiting the locker room. As strange as it may seem, many credit these habits as key factors in their success on the field.
A phrase attributed to the Savior in the Synoptic Gospels reads in full: ‘Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.’
Today, I take the time to share stories of a select few who achieved great success on the pitch while exhibiting behaviours that could be considered superstitious.
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Let’s begin with the man who inspired this write-up—a gift to the beautiful game and one of the most celebrated midfielders. Les Elephant – Gnégnéri Yaya Touré.
Before the Ivorian footballer moved to the Chinese team Qingdao Huanghai and retired in 2020, he dominated two of Europe’s top five leagues, playing for Barcelona and Manchester City. The latter was where his talent truly shone, making 230 appearances and scoring 59 goals. In the process, he was crowned African Footballer of the Year four times in a row from 2011 to 2014.
When asked during a TV broadcast whether he engaged in pre-match rituals, he admitted to having one.
“I always put the boot on my left leg first. If it’s on the left, then it’s perfect. After that, we are all good,” Toure said.
He would go on to score over a hundred goals with a chunk coming off his left boots.
Staying with the Touré family, Yaya’s older brother Kolo Touré is also part of the superstitious chain, as he always insists on being the last player to step onto the pitch.
This practice isn’t exclusive to Africans alone.
France’s Fabien Barthez, known as Le Divin Chauve (“The Divine Bald One”), required a kiss from teammate Laurent Blanc for good luck — and mighty it was, as they conquered the world in 1998.
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff, arguably the greatest Dutch player of all time, was the exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football. The creator of the famous ‘Cruyff Turn,’ he was magical on the field. His skills appeared effortless, but most who dared to replicate them in play failed miserably.”
Astonishingly, despite his natural abilities, Cruyff engaged in pre-match superstitions, particularly at Ajax. The most noticeable was slapping his teammate and club goalkeeper, Gert Bals, in the stomach before kick-off. There was also the ritual where Cruyff would walk to the opposition half and spit his chewing gum onto their side of the pitch. Disgusting, perhaps, but rewarding, as it helped solidify his legendary status.
Speaking of legends, one whose superstitious belief isn’t about which leg he puts his boots on first, but more of a ‘hop,’ is Didier Yves Drogba Tébily. The striker, best known for his career at Chelsea, where he scored more goals than any other foreign player, had his own rituals. Aside from often being the last in line when the players filed out, Drogba consistently hopped onto the pitch. Superstitious, yes, but rewarding—Drogba was named African Footballer of the Year twice and is currently Chelsea’s fourth-highest goal scorer of all time.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, a name that sounds like a Telenovela character, was, in truth, a real-life legend—nothing fictional about his story. Known globally as Pelé, the Brazilian icon who passed away in 2022, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Despite his immense glory, the Três Corações-born poacher still still bathed himself in superstition. He once gave a match shirt to a fan, only to experience a dip in form afterward. He later instructed a friend to track down the shirt, and a week later, it was returned to Pelé, who promptly returned to his goal-scoring ways.”
Allow me to flip that ‘charity’ coin and end where I should naturally begin – Nigeria. The most populous Black nation, home to numerous ancient and indigenous kingdoms and states. Its diversity gives rise to a wealth of beliefs and superstitions.
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During a conversation with the Weekend Sun, Joseph Michael Yobo, who was captain of the Super Eagles until his retirement in June 2014, acknowledged his pre-match rituals. Before each game, he kneels to pray, but only after eating his favorite meal—rice and plantain. This healthy combination nourished the defender to over 400 appearances for club and country, earning him the title of the third most capped player for the Eagles.
Speaking of the Super Eagles, they were undoubtedly the toast of the world heading into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, thanks to their well-designed jerseys. However, despite the beauty of the kit, some Nigerians superstitiously referred to the home jersey (aka ‘Ugwu green’) as ‘bad luck,’ believing defeat was imminent whenever the team wore it.
As I conclude, here’s a confession… As a broadcast journalist, match day commentator, and writer, I too engage in certain rituals for optimum performance before I pen down my first sentence or turn on the microphone. It’s nothing life-threatening or diabolical—I simply listen to my kind of music: Oliver Mtukudzi, Bob Marley, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Kwam 1, and plenty of Tope Alabi.
What is yours?
