Explained: Viktor Gyokeres' mask celebration

With the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal, the Swedish striker looks set to bring his iconic celebration of goals to the Premier League.

After each of his goals – and he scored 54 in all competitions last season for Sporting - Gyokeres interlocks his hands in front of his mouth and nose to mimic a mask.

Speaking to Arsenal after his signing, Gyokeres explained how it came about. 

"Before I got it, my friends were always saying to me to find my own celebration because they were very tired of me doing all kinds of stuff when I was celebrating," he said. "I had some time off. We went on vacation together.

"During that time, we came up with it after a while. We thought it looked good and I started doing it straightaway. It felt even better on the pitch."

As to the origins of the celebration, the striker hinted a simple explanation in an Instagram post in June 2024. 

"Nobody cared until I put on the mask" was what his post said. These resemble the words used by the character Bane, the leader of a terrorist organisation, in the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises: "No one cared who I was until I put on the mask." 

Gyokeres has not gone further to explain why he chose this celebration. But it has been copied by the Sporting fans in the stands when he scores, and even by one of his new team-mates.  

Central defender Gabriel tried to do the celebration when he scored against Gyokeres' Sporting in the UEFA Champions League last season. However, the Brazilian did not accurately replicate the placement of the hands over the mouth. 

"He's welcome to steal it if he can't create his own celebration!" Gyokeres told Viaplay after the match. "I didn't know he did that, but it's fun he likes my celebration."

His move to Arsenal means that Gyokeres can give Gabriel some one-to-one coaching on doing the celebration correctly the next time the Brazilian scores.