The Scariest Soccer Celebrations To Break Out On Halloween
Halloween’s creeping closer, and if spooky celebrations are your game, NYC Footy is ready to serve as your stage. Whether you’re hunting for costume inspiration or just fancy a peek at some horrific goal-fuelled shenanigans, here are six footballers whose celebrations will send a shiver down your spine.
We were tempted to include the Tardelli Scream — made famous by Italy midfielder Marco Tardelli after his goal in the 1982 World Cup final — but we’ve moved with the times and found six (666 would’ve taken far too long!) celebrations still haunting pitches today.
Let’s kick off with a back-from-the-dead striker banging them in over in Italy.
6. Rasmus Højlund
The old throat slit, a tried and true classic celebration. (Photo: VisionHaus/Getty Images)
The Denmark striker had the life sucked out of him at Manchester United, but he’s back with a vengeance at Napoli — and his throat-slitting celebration could soon become a regular sight in Serie A. Højlund gives off Berserker/Viking vibes at the best of times, and his current form is scaring the life out of Italian defences.
Omar Marmoush’s celebrations would make Dexter Morgan proud (Photo: Getty Images)
5. Omar Marmoush
The Egyptian forward endured an annus horribilis last season after joining Manchester City, but he showed enough to suggest he can still terrify the Premier League. Now fit again after a spell on the sidelines, Marmoush will be looking to recapture his fearsome form at Eintracht Frankfurt — and unleash his blood-spattered celebrations on an English audience.
Viktor Gyökeres’ dark knight pose is an easy win (Photo: Michael Campanella/Getty Images)
4. Viktor Gyökeres
The Swedish powerhouse massacred the Primeira Liga during his two seasons in Portugal and now finds himself top of the table in the English Premier League with Arsenal. Bristling with aggression, the hard-running striker has yet to fully hit his stride with the Gunners, but it feels only a matter of time before his Batman-inspired celebration becomes the bane of opposing defenders’ lives.
Cole Palmer reminding us he’s become a stone cold kickin’ killer(Photo: Lars Baron Getty Images)
3. Cole Palmer
Okay, we admit it — there’s nothing overtly scary about the Chelsea playmaker’s “Cold Palmer” celebration. That said, the 23-year-old’s mutation from Manchester City academy kid into Stamford Bridge monster has been something to behold — and has undoubtedly sent shivers up the spine of every Premier League defender.
Raul Jimenez’s pirate inspired hook celebration is Jack Sparrow approved (Photo: PA Media)
2. Raúl Jiménez
The Mexican veteran certainly isn’t scared of crosses, as his dozen Premier League goals last season testify. Now 34, Jiménez still has a few heinous tricks up his sleeve after scoring, and any player who brandishes a hook in the throes of goal-scoring passion is fine by us. The man’s a nightmare for defenders — and maybe for costume departments, too!
Want to wear a mask this Halloween? Edon has you covered. (Photo: Versus)
1. Edon Zhegrova
The Kosovan midfielder has yet to strike dread into defenses since joining Juventus, but his box-office potential is clear from the chilling celebrations he pulled off at Ligue 1 Lille. It takes an ominous kind of swagger — and devilish amounts of pre-match prep — to plan a foreboding celebration of this scale. If you’re planning on wearing a mask, take notes from this man!
We hope you found those six celebrations mildly demonic — and that they inspire you to up your Halloween game this year. Got a spooky celebration we missed? Let us know!