Jofra Archer x Marcus Rashford 🫡

[Celerity]

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Marcus Rashford and the goal celebration that is transcending football

https://theathletic.com/4132027/2023/01/29/marcus-rashford-celebration/



Marcus Rashford is the most in-form player in the Premier League, if not in European football. The Manchester United forward has scored 10 goals in as many games since returning from the World Cup, already twice as many as last season. When playing like this, he is that rarest of things: a player who can score at any moment, in any manner, from anywhere.

Yet, whether it is a toe-poke from inside the six-yard box as against Manchester City, the screamer from long range in the defeat to Arsenal, or a brilliant solo run through defenders as though they are not there like against Nottingham Forest in midweek, there has been one common denominator. Since the turn of the year, all of Rashford’s goals have been followed by the same celebration, one that had not been seen before this spurt of unstoppable form. You know how it goes. He runs to one of the corner flags, stands still, perhaps closes his eyes, but always points his index finger to his temple.

Its first outing was after his winner away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on New Year’s Eve, the same day that he had been left out of the starting line-up by Erik ten Hag as punishment for sleeping in and turning up late for a meeting. It has followed every goal that Rashford has scored since, from the late strikes against Bournemouth and Everton, then twice in quick succession against Charlton Athletic and after his winner in the Manchester derby.

Like Alan Shearer’s raised hand, Gareth Bale’s ‘heart’ and Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘siu’, it is becoming a trademark. The only question is: what is the reasoning behind it? Rashford wants to keep its full meaning under wraps, preferring to keep people guessing, to the extent that he has even kept his cards close to his chest when asked about the celebration by United’s in-house media team. Those who have suggested Rashford copied Aurelien Tchouameni’s similar celebration after his goal against England in Qatar are eagle-eyed but wrong.

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