10 Best Soccer Goal Celebrations (Video)

As any striker will undoubtedly tell you, there is simply nothing that beats scoring a goal on the pitch. Over the history of the beautiful game, we have seen plenty of cheeky, weird, emotional, acrobatic and cocky (too many adjectives!!!) goal celebrations. Here is a list detailing ten of the best soccer goal celebrations.

 

10.) Obafemi Martins

The former Newcastle and Inter Milan striker would certainly not be out of place in a gymnastics competition. Nigerian international Martins does a series of astonishing somersaults to celebrate a goal. Here is one from his Inter days after scoring a goal against Reggina.

 

9.) Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud van Nistelrooy doesn’t miss goals too often. So when he missed a penalty against lowly Andorra, the opposition defenders took the opportunity to rub it in. Later in the game, RVN did score, and you can see his reaction against the Andorran defence in this video. It earned him a yellow card, but also earned him his place on this list!!!

 

8.) Cristiano Lucarelli

I don’t know whether to call this disturbing or funny. Cristiano Lucarelli celebrates with his Livorno jersey after scoring a goal against Piacenza, but not in the manner you would have expected!!!

 

7.) Alessandro Del Piero

Del Piero celebrates his goals by sticking his tongue out. Dubbed childish by opposition fans, it has brought plenty of cheer to supporters of the Old Lady in the last two decades. Here is a typical Del Piero celebration after scoring a wonderful free kick against Juve’s bitter rivals Inter.

 

6.) Roger Milla

The veteran forward was Cameroon’s star of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, and his unique style of celebration around the corner flag livened up what was otherwise a dull World Cup.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaAq2LcbKPY

 

5.) Brandi Chastain

Chastain ripped off her jersey after scoring the winning penalty at the 1999 Women’s World Cup final against China at the Rose Bowl. Her bra baring celebrations got her on the covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated. A celebration that a certain Mr. Sepp Blatter would certainly have approved of.

 

4.) Peter Crouch

Former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Peter Crouch’s robot dance celebrations were a source of embarrassment for some and a bit of fun for others. First performed by the tall striker in 2006, Crouch has said that he will not perform it unless he scores in the finals of the Champions League.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDXxHU3re1Q

 

3.) Jimmy Bullard

You’ve simply got to appreciate Bullard’s sense of humour. After scoring a goal against Manchester City, Bullard celebrates the goal by getting his team mates to stand in a circle around him. Hull manager Phil Brown had blasted his players in a half time team talk publicly on the pitch against the same team in December 2008.

 

2.) Bebeto

One of the most famous moments from the 1994 World Cup in the United States. After scoring a goal against the Netherlands, Brazil’s Bebeto rocked his arms from side to side as if he was holding an imaginary baby. Bebeto’s wife had just delivered their third child a few days ago and team mates Romario and Mazinho promptly joined in the celebrations.

It was imitated by Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko after scoring a penalty against Wales in a World Cup 2010 qualifier.

 

1.) Marco Tardelli

This one was all about pure passion. Still sends shivers down the spine of many a football fan when you see it. Marco Tardelli’s celebration after scoring in the 1982 final against West Germany is the stuff of legend. 24 years after the “Tardelli cry”, compatriot Fabio Grosso took inspiration from it when he celebrated his strike at the 2006 World Cup.