What does Viktor Gyokeres’ mask goal celebration mean?

VIKTOR GYOKERES is one of the hottest strikers in the world at the moment.

The Sporting striker has been banging them in for fun since he swapped Coventry for Lisbon in 2023.

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Viktor Gyokeres has been touted for a return to England[/caption]

Gyokeres‘ eye-catching performances in the Portuguese top flight and the Champions League have caught the attention of many top sides around Europe.

Most notably, Premier League giants Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the Swede.

The Red Devils will be seen as the clear favourite to land Gyokeres, with Sporting boss Ruben Amorim taking the reins at Old Trafford from November 11.

Recent reports state that Sporting are willing to accept a cut fee of £63million for the Swede, which is £20m less than his release clause.

Should the inform striker make a stunning return to England, fans will need to get to know his iconic goal celebration.

What does Viktor Gyokeres’ mask goal celebration mean?

When Gyokeres celebrates a goal, he locks his fingers together on both hands and covers his mouth and nose to create a mask.

The reason behind the striker’s unique celebration was completely unknown until he shared a highlights reel of his goals from the 2023/24 season on Instagram, which included the caption: “Nobody cared until I put on the mask.”

The line is a slight misquote from the iconic Batman film The Darts Knight Rises when the villain Bane says: “It doesn’t matter who we are, what matters is our plan. No one cared who I was till I put on the mask.”

Gyokeres is still yet to confirm that Bane is the sole inspiration behind his signature celebration, but the caption certainly hints that it could be a nod to the supervillain.

AP:Associated Press

Gyokeres has hinted that Batman villain Bane is the reason behind his iconic celebration[/caption]

The forward’s former Coventry team-mate Josh Eccles suggested it was a reference to film character Hannibal Lecter.

However, Gyokeres revealed that the theory was incorrect.

He told a Swedish newspaper: “There were lots of guesses… There was Hannibal Lecter and Batman and everything possible, but nobody got it right.

“No-one came close. Yes, it’s a secret. I can clarify that, but not today.”