Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence extends far beyond football, with NFL Baltimore Ravens’ Zay Flowers copying his celebration
Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact extends far beyond football, with NFL star and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers’ touchdown celebration, GOAL reports The moves mimic the Portuguese icon’s famous “Siu” move. Ronaldo’s iconic celebrations have become a global phenomenon, transcending the boundaries of football and permeating other sports.
Flowers drew inspiration from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner for a departure from the usual touchdown celebrations in American football. The Baltimore Ravens player put his own spin on the tribute, recreating Ronaldo’s iconic goal-scoring pose, taking a penalty kick on his teammate playing goalie, then gleefully turning away in classic CR7 style.
An unreal night of celebration with Zay Flowers ⚽️
📺： #BALvsLAC on nbc
📱: Live broadcast #NFLPlus https://t.co/4A9GOmQsZC pic.twitter.com/cMkx1CCbrG– NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2023
Flowers, a Fort Lauderdale native and the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, may come from an area traditionally aligned with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami fans. Still, the 23-year-old wide receiver expressed his preference for the talent of the Portuguese maestro over that of the Argentinian magic with this tribute.
This cross-sport celebration trend is becoming more common, and football rituals have made their way into the NFL. Previously, Aaron Lazard copied Manchester City forward Erling Haaland’s meditation routine during the Green Bay Packers’ visit to London in 2022.
While Zay Flowers is happy to imitate Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebrations, the 38-year-old Portugal star continues to make headlines on the football pitch. Ronaldo has had a prolific season with Saudi Professional League side Al-Nassr, scoring 24 goals in 24 games. In addition, after leading Portugal to qualify for the 2024 European Cup qualifiers, he also broke the record of 205 appearances and 128 goals for Portugal, setting a milestone. The lasting impact of Ronaldo’s legacy is felt not just in football, but in all areas of sporting celebration.