A brief history of cigars in football A tradition reserved only for winners, imported from US sport

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has just brought the tricolour back to the Rossoneri's Milan, resisting the last desperate assault of his Inter cousins by regulating a drained Sassuolo at home, and can finally celebrate yet another feat of his career. He enters the field of the Mapei Stadium with the pace of the old warrior, enjoying every single second as he lights a cigar on his way to the podium in midfield. 

Carlo Ancelotti became a style icon when his photo came out in sunglasses amidst Vinicius, Militao, Alaba and Rodrygo celebrating LaLiga victory with a fat cigar in his mouth, already well consumed, while his counterpart at Manchester City Guardiola, having just won yet another last-second Premier League victory thanks to Gundogan's double, called his players legends and promised a party where neither cigars nor beer will be missing. A reference to the videos released last year during City's party, which portrayed Pep with a Tuscan in his hand as he launched into a karaoke of Don't Look Back in Anger, the Citizen's unofficial anthem.

The cigar is the perfect companion to every victory and no one seems to be able to do without it while uncorking a bottle of Champagne or raising the trophy they have just won. A tradition that originated in the States but has also become an increasingly common scene in the world of football, with players finally able to relax after a long season and enjoy a well-deserved puff.