12 of the most iconic goal celebrations of all time

Goals define this beautiful game. They mean everything to the scorer, his teammates, the coaching staff and the millions of fans watching. The feeling of scoring a crucial goal and making a statement is unparalleled to any other feeling.The joy of scoring is beyond description and thus players express these emotions through celebrating their goals. Be it an injury time winner or a debut goal, players celebrate them in all sorts of ways. Some are downright brilliant while some are hilarious, some are controversial and some just become iconic.We take a look at 10 of the most iconic goal celebrations. They may have done it just once or it’s one of their trademark celebrations. Whatever it may be it just got stuck with them!

#1 The Look Around (Eric Cantona)

A celebration that just speaks out for itself, a celebration that has King Eric Cantona written all over it. In a game where the game was already done and dusted, where Sunderland keeper had already seen the ball go past him and into the back of the net 4 times, Cantona came out with one of the best goals of Premier League history and stole the show away.

Cantona started from the halfway line and went past two defenders, exchanged a one-two with Brian McClair and lobbed the keeper from outside the box and scored an amazing goal and if the goal wasnt incredible enough, the celebration that followed surely was. Cantona glanced around him, looking at the Old Trafford crowd after scoring, and then slowly raised his arms in the air a manner only he can pull off. All hail the King!

#2 Front Flip (Miroslav Klose)

Miroslav Klose, even words fall short of describing this Legend of the modern game. Klose, 36, now plays for Lazio and is famous for his achievements with the German National Side, for whom he is the all-time leading goal scorer. He recently added one more achievement to his already glorious goal scoring career, as he became the World Cup’s all-time leading goal scorer with 16 goals.

The former Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich striker has won the Bundesliga twice and was a Champions League runner-up with the Munich club in 2010. Klose might have not been as prolific while playing for his club like he has been for the national team, but he has always been an exceptional athlete and he proved the point every time with his iconic front flip goal celebration.

Even at the age of 36, he didn’t fail to execute it with precision in this year’s FIFA World Cup. Klose has won numerous honours over the years and has many personal records including scoring in every World Cup he has played and that is extraordinary given the fact that he has represented his country in 4 World Cups!

#3 Shadow Box (Tim Cahill)

The lad from down-under might have left the Premier League to try his luck in the United States, but that didn’t stop him from celebrating his goals in his trademark manner. The all-time Aussie top scorer is a legend among Evertonians and is a very well known figure in the English Football scene. The former Millwall and Everton midfielder currently plays for MLS outfit New York Red Bulls after leaving England in 2012.

The Australian midfielder has become one of the highest profile footballers in the Asian Football Confederation, earning 76 caps and scoring 36 goals for his country, most recently in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. But be it with the national team or his clubs, he never fails to do his trademark shadow boxing celebration every time he scores. Cahill runs towards the corner flag and shadow boxes with it. The Boxing ‘Roo indeed!

#4 Thumb Suck (Francesco Totti)

One of the greatest players of his generation, Italian forward Francesco Totti still plays at the highest level with his club AS Roma. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma and is the club’s greatest ever player. The Italian striker is Roma’s most capped and number one goal scorer of all time.

Totti is a Euro and World Cup winner with Italy and is famous for his chipped penalty goal against the Netherlands in the 2000 Euro Cup. Totti has been seen performing his trademark ‘Thumb-sucking’ celebration since he did it once in a game after scoring, when his son was born and the legend still continues to do it.

Watch him do his trademark celebration with a twist:

#5 The Jersey Swirl (Ryan Giggs)

“A sensational goal from Ryan Giggs!”

The words from commentator Martin Tyler brings back memories of that extraordinary FA Cup moment, when capitalizing from a miss pass from Arsenal’s Patrick Viera, the Welsh Wizard dribbled past defenders from the halfway line and scored one of the greatest goals in FA Cup history that secured the win for the RedDevils in their F.A Semi Final replay against bitter rivals Arsenal.

Giggs, a product of Manchester United’s youth academy was a part of the famous Class of 92, along with likes of David Beckham and Paul Scholes, but the Welshman always stood out, with his exceptional abilities. Giggs, who retired from club football last year, produced the most iconic of goals and celebrations in the history of the cup. After scoring he took, off his shirt and whirled it in the air, all while running before he was halted by the embrace of his fellow teammates and fans who invaded the pitch!

A special FA cup moment indeed!

#6 \'Cocaine\' Sniff (Robbie Fowler)

A Liverpool legend, Robbie Fowler is Premier League’s 6th highest goal scorer and was known for his brilliant goalscoring record and goal poaching ability. Born in Liverpool, Fowler grew up as an Everton Fan and his most controversial moment came in a Merseyside derby against the Toffees.

While celebrating a goal against his childhood club, Fowler used the white line of the penalty area in a manner which depicted him sniffing cocaine. He was fined £60,000 by Liverpool and received a 4 match ban for the incident. The then Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier tried to defend him by stating that Fowler was only trying to imitate fellow teammate, Rigobert Song’s grass eating celebration.

Later defending himself, Fowler said he only did this as a response to Everton fans’ accusation of him doing drugs. Well, the celebration did stir up a big controversy but it became associated with Fowler and is remembered by fans all around the globe.

#7 Why Always Me? and Muscle Flex (Mario Balotelli)

Controversy’s favourite child, the Italian striker never fails to make the headlines, be it for his feud with the manager, off the field antics, outstanding goals or the craziest of celebrations!

Super Mario usually doesn’t celebrate his goals. When asked about it, he replied by saying that it was his job to score goals and one doesn’t celebrate something one is supposed to do. But his rare occasions of celebrating his goals have now become iconic.

In 2011, while still playing for Manchester City, he set off fireworks inside the bathroom in his house in Manchester, just a day before the Manchester Derby against United. He scored the following day in the derby and celebrated by taking off his jersey to display a t-shirt with a slogan “Why Always Me?” in front of a packed Old Trafford stadium, much to the annoyance of the home fans. He went on to pick up a booking for the celebration. The famous celebration is cited as one of the best in the Premier League in modern times.

#8 Cartwheel to Shoot (Robbie Keane)

In a career spanning 11 clubs, the Irishman has seen it all. The vastly experienced Keane has played for clubs in the Premier League, Serie A and currently plays in the Major League Soccer. The LA Galaxy and Ireland captain is the all-time record Irish scorer with 65 goals for the national team and his goals have been accompanied by his trademark celebration.

The cartwheel flip and shoot. Yes, the same one we do so many times while playing FIFA! The trademark celebration may have lost its edge in the recent years because of the former Spurs striker’s age, but he still manages to pull it off, though the flip has turned into a roll on the ground!

#9 Ride The Wave/Sturridge Dance (Daniel Sturridge)

He showed geat potential at Chelsea, but sadly he could never prosper there, but his move to Merseyside did him wonders. Sturridge made quite an impact since joining the Reds in 2013. His first season saw him scoring 10 goals in 14 appearances, but it was the 2013-14 season when the world saw him prosper.

Combining with Luis Suarez, he began scoring plenty of goals and ‘Riding the Wave’ if you want to put it that way. He scored 21 goals in the 2013-14 season, and throughout the season the fans got to see his trademark wave celebration, which originated as a banter between his cousins and brother and has even been featured in FIFA 14!

He has been injured for most of this season, but now that he is back and the Reds will be hoping to see more of his dance moves after a poor start a season.

#10 Chicken Dance (Kevin Nolan)

West Ham Captain, a Bolton hero and an idol for the Newcastle fans, the Liverpool-born attacking midfielder is adored all around the country. His grit and determination to work hard to earn his team the win is highly appreciated. He has a career total of 98 goals, most of whom have been followed by his Chicken Dance!

The midfielder explained that he had decided upon the routine while on holiday in Marbella, in homage to the dancefloor moves of one of his pals, Carl 'Quincy' Quine and the dance celebration had stuck. He was even mocked by Sunderland supporters when he had a goalless period, when the sang “Your Chicken is Dead! Your Chicken is Dead!! Kevin Nolan your Chicken is Dead!!” the midfielder laughed it off. But as the Hammers captain said “ The Chicken is still alive”.

#11 Right Here Right Now (Cristiano Ronaldo)

The celebration is clearly not an easy one to pull off as seen last year when two NFL players were forced to miss out their whole season after attempting to pull off the same celebration. Both Lamarr Houston, a defensive end who plays in the NFL for Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch tore their ACL, injuring themselves severely in the process.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the first one to pull off this celebration needs no introduction. He is as lethal as a footballer can get, and his trademark celebration, rightly named as ‘Right Here Right Now’ by FIFA is definitely one of the most famous celebrations in world football now.

#12 The KO (Wayne Rooney)

Wayne Rooney’s celebration during Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur last night is the latest addition to our list as the striker pretended to throw a few punches before falling down as if he has just been knocked out.

This celebration of his came as a result of a video of him that was posted on social media with Rooney being knocked out cold after a bout with his friend and former Manchester United footballer Phil Bardsley. The celebration should definitely be included in FIFA’s next installment!