Many soccer players believe in luck. Those charged with actually scoring might be the most superstitious of all. It stands to reason. Strikers are judged on goals and, since this is a low-scoring sport with relatively few games played in the course of a season (compared to, say, baseball or basketball) fortune and happenstance matter tremendously.

What's more, center forwards are disproportionately dependent on their teammates. A power hitter in baseball will usually get to the plate four or five times a game, no matter how...