It’s a sight that, if everything goes right, Manchester United fans might see a lot of next season at Old Trafford as Viktor Gyokeres’ celebration of his goals has become as iconic as his scoring record.
Everybody knows it by now. Viktor Gyokeres lashes in a shot that leaves the goalkeeper helpless, and makes the mask with his hands in a shot that photographers wait for.
Sporting fans now do it with him, but with Gyokeres burning bridges with them, the chances are that he will be doing it elsewhere by the end of this transfer window.
It’s likely that Viktor Gyokeres’ celebration will hit Old Trafford next season but what’s the story behind the same? Here’s all you need to know about the story behind Viktor Gyokeres’ celebration.
Viktor Gyokeres doing his "mask" celebration
Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images
Viktor Gyokeres celebration explained
In a world that is effectively marketing turned up to a thousand, Gyokeres’ celebration is a dream for any club that has him.
The story behind the “mask” started way back when he was with Coventry and just beginning to break out.
The first theory was put forward by his then-teammate, Josh Eccles, who equated Gyokeres’ celebration with that of Hannibal Lecter’s mask.
Eccles added an iconic quote, (via Coventry Telegraph), saying, “He [Lecter] eats people and Viktor destroys defences”.
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However, as poetic as that was, Gyokeres refuted this suggestion. Speaking to Swedish outlet Aftonbladet in November 2023, Gyokeres said that it was neither Lecter nor Batman, adding that “it’s a secret” that he will clarify later.
The games continued after he joined Sporting, saying in the middle of his debut season that he’ll tell everyone once they win the league.
Sporting did win the league and in June 2024, the most believable theory was confirmed sneakily by Gyokeres himself in an Instagram post.
Portuguese media related the celebration to Bane, the villain from Batman’s saga. Gyokeres, in an Instagram post in June, used Bane’s quote, “Nobody cared until I put on a mask”, confirming his inspiration for the celebration.
Gyokeres’ celebration story sums up his career journey
Looking at Gyokeres’ impact for Sporting in the last two seasons, it is impossible to believe that he is the same player who was not rated by Brighton’s famed scouting a few years ago.
Gyokeres’ story is one of redemption, fighting against the odds to prove himself when people were writing him off too easily.
His ascent at Coventry, subsequent levelling up in Portugal with Sporting and then taking his game to another level internationally and in the Champions League speak of a player who is now ready for the next step.
That next step is to repeat his Sporting heroics at a top club with the eyes of the world on him.
It could be at Old Trafford under the manager who supercharged his ascent at Sporting after trusting him with the starting berth despite coming from a Championship team at the time.
If that happens, everybody will care whenever he puts on the mask. Man Utd are crying out for a serial goalscoring talisman with the personality to boot.