World Cup 2014: Football players and their uncanny ways to 'woo' lady luck

It takes a lot of hard work, talent and perseverance for a sportsperson to succeed on the field and sometimes superstition becomes part of their sporting life and footballers are no different.

From football legend Pele to Spain's very own 'saint' Iker Casillas, a host of players do certain things that might seem crazy to others.

Real Madrid's star striker Cristiano Ronaldo always goes for a fresh haircut before the game and makes sure he's the first player in the team's line-up to hit the pitch emerging from the tunnel, while Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure prefers to be the last one to take the field.

Things are different for Spain's mid-fielder Cesc Fabregas and Mexico's Hernandez as one drops on his knees and kisses a ring gifted by his girlfirend every time he scores a goal and the other conducts a prayer on the field.

England's Baines has a pre-game ritual which is 'unique' in itself - he goes back left and then walks onto the field - unties an reties his shoelaces.

One of the most amusing pre-game rituals in the sport's history was seen in 1998 World Cup - before every match French defender Blanc would kiss the bald head of team's goalkeeper Barthez.

The quirky superstitions of soccer stars are not restricted to on-field gestures and actions alone, for some it extends to the dinner table and even to their hot wheels.

For instance, Spaniard Pepe Reina munches cheese and ham toasts and a glass of wine the night before a game and makes sure his car was full of petrol on match days, But Italy's Roberto Mancini - dislikes it if anybody passes on the salt to him at the dining table.

Interestingly, former Liverpool forward Kevin Keegan, prefers staying bare bodied until all his team-mates are fully dressed and ready.

The 22-year-old prodigy Neymar talks to his father prior to the match, while Suarez kisses a tattoo on his wrist that bears the names of his son and daughter.

Former England footballer David Beckham use to wear a new pair of soccer cleats at every game to ensure a win. Whereas legendary Diego Maradona clutches rosary beads while watching Argentina play.