The FIFA World Cup is known to be one of the, if not the, biggest sporting events the world currently knows, bringing together some of the best football players from all over. But besides the prowess on the field, these iconic players have some pretty interesting or plain weird quirks behind them too. This week, let me bring to you some of the superstitions the players believe in and practice, you will be shocked.
Kolo Toure (Liverpool)
The Ivorian insists on being the last player to come onto the pitch. It sounds a harmless enough superstition, until it landed the former Arsenal player a yellow card during a Champion League game. With Toure’s central-defensive partner receiving half-time treatment on a injury, Toure refused to come out before him and the game restarted with both of them. Toure eventually took the field without the referee’s permission and got yellow-carded.
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
The once untouchable Iker Casillas is another victim of the superstitious virus. He changes his shirt from one game to the next if he concedes a goal, cuts the sleeves off his shirt and touches the crossbar each time his team scores or concedes a goal. And his most disgusting act of superstition (thankfully, he has kicked that habit), is to wear his socks inside-out during matches.
Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
This is probably the most common superstitious move of all, the Mexican national team’s star striker drops to his knees in prayer before each match. He reportedly inherited the ritual from his father, who also represented his country at an international level.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
The Portuguese team captain and Real Madrid forward is widely known as the world’s best player, the world’s most expensive player, and the player with the ever-changing hairstyles. He is also known for his famously weird pre-game ‘rituals’. He always steps onto the pitch with his right foot first. He must touch the ball before leaving the dressing room. He insist on sitting alone in the back row and he must be the last one to leave the bus.
Leighton Baines (Everton)
Before each match, the Everton player walks on to the field, then unties and reties his shoelaces. When asked why he does it, he doesn’t even know why.
Now I have given you something extra to look for in the upcoming games in this World Cup or for any other games. But before that, it’s time for the 3rd and last contest giveaway!
Contest 3: Where’s BRAND’S Essence of Chicken? (7 July to 11 July)
Over the next 7 days, three images will be posted on my Facebook https://www.facebook.com/isaiah.kuan, and for each image, be the first to spot all of the bottles of BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken hidden, and stand to win a pack of BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken, and a $50 Takashimaya Voucher! To participate, simply comment on the Facebook post where you think the bottles are!
Image 1: Release on 7th July, Monday
Image 2: Release on 9th July, Wednesday
Image 3: Release on 11th July, Friday
To participate:
1.One winner per image posted.
2.The first to spot all the bottles of BRAND’S Essence of Chicken wins for that specific image released.
3.Should none of the participants spot all of the bottles of BRAND’S Essence of Chicken, the participant who spotted the most number of bottles wins.
