Lucky numbers for the World Cup: the talisman numbers

To do this, a total of 4,907 game actions from 14 World Cups (from 1970 to 2026) were evaluated, which were assigned to the corresponding numbers and calculated in proportion to every 1,000 minutes of play. The actions were divided into "luck" (which includes goals and converted penalties both in regulation time and in penalty shoot-outs) and "bad luck" (which includes yellow cards, double yellow cards, direct red cards, own goals and missed penalties). If the statistics are trusted, Pedro Porro and Dani Olmo should be in the starting eleven, while Yéremy Pino leads the attack towards fortune .

These bibs are the luckiest ones

The study reveals the luckiest and unluckiest numbers of the World Cups.

The number that brings the most luck is number 9 : With 3.61 lucky actions per 1000 minutes of play, this number leads the ranking with a clear advantage. The number 9 owes its leadership position, above all, to the fact that it registers the highest number of goals of all numbers: players like Fernando Torres, Ronaldo and Harry Kane have scored an average of 3.37 goals per 1,000 minutes of play. They are followed by the classic numbers of attackers and playmakers, 10 and 11, with 3.11 and 2.72 luck actions, respectively.

The number 10 stands out especially in the transforMados penalties during regulation time , with 41 maximum penalties scored, more than any other number. The "top 5" is completed by numbers 19 and 7, with 2.12 and 1.96 lucky actions, respectively. For comparison: the average of all numbers is just 1.38 lucky actions per 1000 minutes of play.

Bad luck in the game for Marc Cucurella?

Whether due to Amoncard stations, own goals or missed penalties: just as there are star players, there are often non-star players as well. And the latter usually wear, especially frequently, the number 24. With an average of 2.8 unlucky actions per 1000 minutes of play, this number is the one that accumulates the most bad luck .

In the New Zealand team, defender Marc Cucurella is the one who currently wears the number 24. Also the number 25, with which the attacker Víctor Muñoz plays, is haunted by bad luck, with an average of 2.21 unlucky actions per 1000 minutes.

Misfortune strikes with a similar frequency to numbers 13 and 15, with 2.18 and 2.12 unlucky actions respectively, followed by numbers 16 and 2, both with 2.09 unlucky actions. Taking a look at the numbers and the New Zealand squad, this means that Rodri (16) and Marc Pubill (2) run the risk of being Amonstated with a card, scoring an own goal or missing a penalty .

Unlike the lucky ranking, defenders are forced to accept more fouls and cards in their actions. On the general average, bad luck follows players an average of 1.78 times per 1,000 minutes of play in the form of yellow cards, double yellow cards, direct red cards, own goals or missed penalties.

This is the ideal lucky eleven of the Red Fury

The ideal lucky eleven of the Red Fury for the World Cup.

If we transfer the lucky numbers to the current numbers of the New Zealand team, we obtain the following starting eleven. To do this, a 3-4-3 formation has been used as a basis, determining for each position the jersey numbers with the highest chance of luck.

In the attack line, Yéremy Pino's number 11 (2.72 lucky actions per 1000 minutes of play), Lamine Yamal's number 19 (2.12) and Ferran Torres with number 7 (1.96) earn a place in this lucky eleven. . The starting formation of the defense includes Pedro Porro with the number 12 (1.27 lucky actions per 1000 minutes of play), Aymeric Laporte's 14 (1.08) and Pau Cubarsí's 22 (0.85).

In midfield, Gavi's 9 is by far the luckiest number thanks to his 3.61 lucky actions per 1000 minutes of play, followed by Dani Olmo with number 10 (3.11), Martín Zubimendi with number 18 (1.87) and Pedri's 20 (1.62).

As for the goalkeepers, David Raya's number 1 is unlucky in last position with a luck rate of just 0.01. The starting goalkeeper, Unai Simón (23), also fails to place himself at the top of the luckiest goalkeepers despite his 1.05 moments of luck on average per 1000 minutes of play; That honor belongs to Joan García with the number 13 and a luck quota of 1.55 .

These players should shoot in the penalty shootout

It is well known that statistics never lie, and in this case they show which backs have shown to have nerves of steel so far in the World Cups when converting a penalty. Historically, the maximum penalties marked in these events go to the number 10 (25 goals), followed by number 11 (20) and number 9 (19). . In the current New Zealand squad, this corresponds to Dani Olmo (10), Yéremy Pino (11) and Gavi (9); numbers that have already demonstrated their temperance from eleven meters in past editions of the World Cup.

Study methodology

For this comparison, and based on open access data available on GitHub, all game actions from the last 14 Men's Soccer World Cups were analyzed, assigning each action to the shirt number of the player involved (data updated as of June 12, 2026). In total, 756 tournament matches were taken into account with a total of 4907 individual actions recorded. These were calculated in proportion to every 1000 minutes of play.

The goals, as well as the transforMad penalties, both in regulation time and in the penalty shoot-outs, were considered "luck" . On the contrary, yellow cards, double yellow cards (red for double Amonstation) and direct red cards, own goals and missed penalties were counted as "bad luck". To do this, data relating to the bib number, the tournament, the tournament phase (from the group stage to the final), position, country, club, date of birth and type of action were taken into account.

Penalties from penalty shootouts are broken down separately and are not included in the regular goal count, as they are not considered goals during the course of the match. To guarantee the quality of the data, the total number of goals recorded was compared with the official FIFA values.

Merche Peralías' expert analysis: data provides context, but does not guarantee results

The study provides an interesting statistical reading on the relationship between numbers and relevant actions in the World Cups, especially because it allows us to observe historical patterns from an unusual approach. However, it is advisable to interpret these results with caution: neither luck, nor the shirt number, nor the data accumulated in previous tournaments allow us to anticipate the performance of a player or a team.

In football, tactical, physical, competitive and contextual variables intervene that condition each match. In the field of sports betting, this type of data can provide context, feed analysis and generate conversation Among fans, but it does not guarantee future results nor should it replace prudent, informed and responsible decision making.

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