He didn’t play a single minute in Russia, but French defender Adil Rami still played a strangely pivotal part in his side’s World Cup triumph.

France lifted the trophy for the second time in their history on Sunday after defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final with Rami again not taking the pitch, reports goal.com.

Though not being directly involved in the action, Rami and his elaborate moustache once again played a role with the 32-year-old revealing a strange tournament tradition involving his facial hair continued prior to the final.

‘Antoine Griezmann touched it before the game, and even the manager did to bring luck,’ Rami told TF1.

‘It is now the most famous moustache in France. I will keep it.’

It’s a ritual reminiscent of France’s 1998 World Cup winning side which saw Laurent Blanc kiss Fabien Barthez’s bald head prior to games for good luck.

The superstition worked a treat then, and 20 years later another one has inevitably become part of another Les Bleus victory.

Rami’s lucky moustache began working its magic with Antoine Griezmann, who started touching it prior to France’s group games with most of the squad gradually following suit throughout the tournament.