Top 10 Best Soccer Celebrations: Iconic Moves & Gestures (Ranked)

Goal celebrations in soccer are more than just momentary outbursts of joy, they are powerful expressions of emotion, personality, and sometimes even defiance that can become as iconic as the goals themselves. These soccer celebrations etch themselves into the memories of fans, shaping the legacies of players and adding layers of narrative to the beautiful game.

Recently, the Aura Farming soccer celebration has taken the internet by storm, with football players across various leagues adopting it. This isn't the first time a soccer celebration has gone viral and been hailed as one of the best in the world. Many celebrations have captured global attention due to their relatability or the unique "aura" they exude.

For instance, Pogba's Dab and the Dele Alli challenge became instant hits for their cool, trendsetting appeal. Whether it’s the raw emotional release of a World Cup triumph, a heartfelt personal tribute, or a bold statement against adversity, the most resonant celebrations connect with audiences beyond the pitch. We’ve undertaken the challenging task of ranking the top 10 best football celebrations of all time, using key factors like originality, emotion, cultural impact, and simplicity. However, with so many iconic celebrations to consider, we’ve also factored in virality as a secondary criteria to refine our list of the best soccer celebrations.

List of Best Celebrations in Football

The list below shows the top 10 best football celebrations ever performed in the history of football. This list of the best soccer celebrations consists of moments that were either dedicated to someone close or performed to show happiness after scoring a goal or winning a trophy.

How We Ranked the Best Soccer Celebrations?

Let's understand each of the ranking factors that were used to rank the best soccer celebrations ever. Ranking factors - Originality, Emotion, Culture and Simplicity helped us in choosing the 10

Originality: Originality plays a crucial role; a celebration that breaks new ground, like Quincy Promes utilizing a mask or Christian Pulisic showcasing his tiger tattoo, often stands out.

Emotion: The emotional impact of a celebration is also paramount. Brandi Chastain’s raw elation after winning the World Cup or Marco Tardelli’s primal scream in the 1982 World Cup final are powerful examples. Memorability is key, with celebrations like Alan Shearer’s simple raised arm becoming instantly recognizable.

Culture: A celebration that reflects a player’s unique personality, like Facundo Sava’s penchant for masks or Eric Cantona’s cool, nonchalant demeanor, also contributes to its ranking. The context and significance of the goal often amplify the celebration’s impact, as seen with Messi’s shirt hold in a crucial El Clásico.

Simplicity: Sometimes, simplicity can be incredibly effective, as demonstrated by Frank Lampard’s understated ring kiss. Celebrations that achieve iconic status and demonstrate longevity, like the classic knee slide, are highly regarded as cool football celebrations.

Which is the Best Celebration in Football?

The list below shows the top 10 best soccer celebrations of all time. These celebrations are chosen based on the ranking factors explained above, like originality, emotion, cultural impact, simplicity, and virality.

10. Sergio Ramos (Defender | Spain)

At number 10, we have Sergio Ramos for his updated version of the call celebration. This time, the Spanish player has targeted his ex-club, which gave him a name in the world of football. In one of the matches in Liga MX, the center-back celebrated his header goal by making a call celebration meant to mock the Real Madrid management, especially the President of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez.

Many football enthusiasts have done the anatomy of the celebration and found out, the Spanish player was upset when he requested a 2 year extension at Real Madrid, but the management decided to strike his name from the season. In response, he has started celebrating his goals by doing this celebration, which has taken the internet by storm. Additionally, Ramos' new celebration has allowed the advertisers and content creators to utilize the celebration to boost their profile or businesses, making the call celebration a unique and one of the best soccer celebration in the world.

Video Credit: Youtube/@NexusFootball

9. Mohamed Salah (Forward | Egypt)

Mohamed Salah’s Egyptian King celebration, a one-legged prayer gesture, ranks among the top soccer celebrations. The two-time Premier League winner performed this iconic move after scoring a stunning long-range goal against Chelsea in the 2018-2019 Premier League season. The celebration shocked Chelsea fans, as Salah’s Premier League career began with their club. It sparked a divide online, some fans supported the Liverpool winger, while others criticized him for celebrating in front of his former team.

In soccer, players often show respect by not celebrating when they score against a former club. However, Salah’s bold celebration made the moment unforgettable for both sides. If we put ourselves in his position, many of us might have done the same.

Video Credit: Youtube/@MohamedSalah-gi3bn

8. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Forward | Gabon)

At number 8, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s celebration honors Chadwick Boseman, the Black Panther actor who passed away. His sudden death saddened the world, and people paid tribute in many ways. Aubameyang wore a Black Panther mask after scoring against Watford, a simple but powerful gesture that went viral and touched millions of fans.
The fans fell in love with the celebration and got emotional after the Gabonese player hit the mask celebration. To this date, this iconic tribute to the late actor is considered as one of the best soccer celebrations that the football world has seen.

Video Credit: Youtube/@ItsFantastic

7. Kylian Mbappe (Forward | France)

The list of best soccer celebrations would have been incomplete without the celebration of Kylian Mbappe. The Kylian Mbappe cross-arm celebration, or ‘lil bro celebration,’ has taken over both the real and virtual sports world. The celebration Kylian Mbappe performs after scoring goals is special to him, as he took it from his younger brother, Ethan Mbappe.

Kylian Mbappé got the idea for his arm-crossing goal celebration from his younger brother, Ethan. In a 2018 interview with The Players’ Tribune, he said, “I saw my little brother doing it one day when he scored, and I just thought it was cool. So I started doing it too.”The lil bro celebration is one of the best celebrations in the world in the last 5 years and has shown no sign of fading. From Children to Adults, all are copying the celebration. This mass hysteria behind the celebration can make the celebration the best soccer celebration.

Video Credit: Youtube/@RIJANRN

6. Wayne Rooney (Midfielder | England)

Wayne Rooney’s boxing jabs celebration against Tottenham Hotspur in 2015 offered a humorous response to a leaked video. After scoring, Rooney playfully threw a series of shadow boxing punches before comically falling to the ground, much to the amusement of the Manchester United supporters. The most memorable soccer celebrations often tell a story, whether it’s a personal tribute, a defiant statement, a humorous retort, or a pure expression of unadulterated joy.

Video Credit: Youtube/@unitedreigns247

5. Mario Balotelli (Forward | Italy)

Mario Balotelli’s “Why Always Me?” celebration during the Manchester derby on October 23, 2011, was a moment of understated brilliance. After scoring for Manchester City, Balotelli simply lifted his jersey to reveal a t-shirt bearing the question “Why Always Me?”. This enigmatic message became an instant classic, perfectly capturing the public perception of the talented but often controversial striker.

Video Credit: Youtube/@premierleague

4. Antoine Griezmann (Forward | France)

At number 4 on our list of the best soccer celebrations is Antoine Griezmann the French forward known for his charm and flair on the pitch. He’s also famous for creating some of the most iconic celebrations in soccer. His Hotline Bling dance, inspired by Drake’s music video, and the “L” celebration, linked to Fortnite, became hugely popular and went viral among fans.

Griezmann performed this cold football celebration in various football matches, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter-final, which made the fans furious. His ‘L’ celebration against Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup is considered one of the coldest moments in the history of football.

Video Credit: Youtube/@@zemede6615

3. Paulo Dybala (Forward | Argentina)

At number 3 on our list of top soccer celebrations is Argentine star Paulo Dybala. His famous “Dybalamask” celebration is a fan favorite. The Juventus forward covers his face with his hand like a gladiator’s mask, first doing it in 2017 against Cagliari in Serie A. This simple, bold gesture shows his fierce spirit and became a viral sensation.

Video Credit: Youtube/@IssyFT

2. Lionel Messi (Forward | Argentina)

Lionel Messi’s shirt hold against Real Madrid is a moment frozen in time. Following a breathtaking last-minute winner in El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 23, 2017. Messi, in a rare display of overt emotion, removed his Barcelona jersey and held it aloft to the stunned Real Madrid supporters. This powerful and defiant act instantly became an iconic image in the fierce rivalry.

Video Credit: Youtube/@moderncr7

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Forward | Portugal)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s “Siuuu” is a global phenomenon. After scoring, Ronaldo sprints, leaps with a distinctive spin, and lands with his arms dramatically outstretched while bellowing “Siiiiuuu!” This energetic and confident celebration has become synonymous with the player, so much so that he even trademarked the word. Its widespread imitation by fans and other athletes speaks volumes about its iconic status.

Video Credit: Youtube/@@apfootbaII