The legendary Cristiano Ronaldo is not opposed to his pre-game rituals that some of us consider very quirky! You may have noticed while watching him before a match because his ritual involves how he enters the field. Aside from the physical discipline and work ethic he’s renowned for, he also has extreme rituals. More specifically, he always steps onto the field with his right foot first, followed by a small jump. He explains this being part of his mental routine to get into “game mode”. That’s not all – Ronaldo has specific spots he sits in the locker room and on the bus that he’ll never stray from.

Lionel Messi

Next up on our list of the quirkiest superstitions is another legendary figure, Lionel Messi. Messi’s tradition is much more wholesome and is a way for him to dedicate every goal to his wife. Following every goal, Messi celebrates by kissing his wedding ring for his wife and then his other fingers, each representing one of his three children. He explains this as a moment of gratitude, symbolizing his connection to his family. His pre-game rituals involve following a specific warm-up routine and order that he puts his gear on which he attributes to his performance. Although these quirks are not as outlandish as other players on this list, his commitment to the routine helps him stay calm and collected from beginning to end.

Luis Suárez

Back in his days with Liverpool, Luis Suárez injured a finger on his right hand and he had to wear a bandage. Something that started out as a negative injury, miraculously became one of his good luck charms. The Uruguayan played so well with his bandaged finger that he decided to keep it after the injury had healed, and he continues to wear one for every match to this day. He also kisses his wrist and three fingers for his wife and children after scoring each goal!

Johan Cruyff

One of the more ill-mannered superstitions was made famous by Jhan Cruyff, a legend who left his mark on the beautiful game. His ritual before every match involved slapping (yes, you read that correctly) his goalkeeper in the stomach, followed by walking onto the pitch chewing gum and then spitting it onto the opponent’s side right before kickoff. Cruyff was notorious for his wild behaviour that he believed brought him good luck before every game. Despite the offensive nature of his actions, few ever dared to question it.

Malvin Kamara

For all of our Wonka fans out there, this one’s for you! Former English midfielder Malvin Kamara was widely known for his love of the 1971 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – so much so that he would watch the film before every single match. You may be wondering why Willy Wonka out of all the movies he could have chosen? His explanation was that it gave him feelings of nostalgia, helped calm his nerves, and made him think of the enjoyment of candy instead of soccer for a little while!

 John Terry

Next on our list is a quirky superstition that’s arguably the most specific out of the bunch. The legendary Chelsea player, John Terry, was famous for wearing the exact same set of shin pads and boots for years. He even admitted to wearing them until they were nearly falling apart just because he was scared new ones wouldn’t perform as well. That's not all, he also had an exact order for every single thing he did leading up to a match. He had to always park in the same parking spot, use the same urinal, and listen to the same playlist of songs in order. His quirky traditions went far beyond small habits – they were ritualistic!