World Football's 20 Most Passionate Goal Celebrations

Passionate goal celebrations come in all types.

But, what exactly constitutes passion? Lots of things, really.

The standard practice here is to quote from a dictionary. But I don't play like that.

So here's what my thesaurus lists under passion:

"

"Fervor, ardor, enthusiasm, eagerness, zeal, zealousness, vigor, fire, fieriness, energy, fervency, animation, spirit, spiritedness, fanaticism."

"

Got it?

Let's get started with this list of 20 fervent, enthusiastic, zealous, vigorous, fiery, energetic, spirited and fanatical goal celebrations.

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Marco Tardelli

Might as well start with the gold standard of goal celebrations.

This is former Italian midfielder Marco Tardelli scoring Italy's second in their 3-1 victory over West Germany in the 1982 World Cup final.

If you're a football fan, you've seen this clip numerous times.

Still, it's likely to induce goosebumps every time you watch it.

Fabio Grosso

From there, let's head to Italy's most recent World Cup title in 2006.

The final against France went to penalties, and Fabio Grosso converted the decisive spot kick.

Afterwards, he flew around the pitch, celebrating wildly with his ecstatic teammates.

Wouldn't you?

Andres Iniesta

From there, let's move forward four years to the 2010 World Cup final.

Andres Iniesta scored the winning goal for Spain against Holland in extra time.

The strike prompted joyous celebrations, as Spain realized they were about to end decades of World Cup failure.

Siphiwe Tshabalala

From there, let's move to the first match of the 2010 World Cup.

It was the first World Cup played in Africa, and in the first match, South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first goal against Mexico.

That led to a continent celebrating with the Bafana Bafana along the touchline.

Stuart Pearce

Stuart Pearce missed a crucial penalty for England in the 1990 World Cup semifinals.

Six years later, he (sorta) atoned for it by converting a spot kick against Spain in the quarterfinals.

Psycho's celebration was a visual representation of the weight lifting off his shoulders.

Paul Gascoigne

Elsewhere during England's Euro 96 campaign, Paul Gascoigne pulled off this famous celebration in the group stage against Scotland.

The theme came from a pre-tournament controversy, in which Gascoigne and some teammates were pictured partying quite hard at a Hong Kong nightspot.

So Gazza's celebration was premeditated and quite cheeky. But you can also see the passion on his face.

Diego Maradona

At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, an aging Diego Maradona scored a golazo against Greece and then charged a nearby camera like a madman.

If that video doesn't convince you of Maradona's drug-addled mindset that day, check this picture.

So, yeah, that's one kind of passion, I suppose.

Cristiano Lucarelli

And here Cristiano Lucarelli shows another, much different, type of passion.

Which kind?

You'll figure it out.

Alessandro Del Piero

Staying in Italy for a moment, here's a good celebration from Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero.

Think he got that tongue-out theme from Michael Jordan?

Aldo Poy

Rosario Central won their first Argentine title in 1971, and in the semifinal of the Nacional championship, a header from Aldo Poy was enough to beat archrival Newell's Old Boys.

The goal prompted wild celebrations, and the whole situation is still reenacted every year to this day.

Watch the video for more.

Ryan Giggs

In the 1999 FA Cup semis, Ryan Giggs scored this famous winner in extra time against Arsenal.

His shirtless celebration became arguably more famous.

Brandi Chastain

In 1999, the United States won the Women's World Cup on home soil after a dramatic penalty shootout against China.

Brandi Chastain converted the decisive spot kick, and don't act like you don't remember it.

Roger Milla

Another famous World Cup celebration was the work of Cameroon's Roger Milla in 1990.

Unfortunately, Milla isn't looking quite as smooth these days.

Carlos Tevez

It's back to South America for this Carlos Tevez celebration for Boca Juniors against archrival River Plate during a 2004 Copa Libertadores match.

How funky is your chicken, how loose is your goose? So come on all you cheerleaders, and shake your caboose!

David Pleat

Here's an equally artless celebration, this time from David Pleat for Luton Town in 1983.

Artless, yes. But heartfelt, too.

The reason: Pleat's Luton Town avoided relegation thanks to his goal.

Graeme Souness

Technically, Graeme Souness is celebrating a win for Galatasaray on archrival Fenerbahce's home ground in the 1996 Turkish Cup final.

But there were goals involved, and this is absolutely insane.

What would drive a man to plant a flag in the middle of a fierce opponent's pitch?

Passion—or mental derangement. I'm not sure which.

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Jurgen Klinsmann

Jurgen Klinsmann's famous diving goal celebration against Sheffield Wednesday in 1994 was clever.

But you can also see how much it means to him to score that first goal in England after taking so much heat for diving.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor's run-all-the-way-across-the-pitch-to-show-up-Gooners celebration for Manchester City against Arsenal in 2009 was a bit uncalled for.

But you can tell how much it meant to him to score against his former club.

Gary Neville

Speaking of uncalled for, here's Gary Neville's famous goal celebration against Liverpool.

What's that? He didn't actually score the goal?

Details.

(And that's just how G-Nev rolls.)

Temuri Ketsbaia

Finally, nobody will ever top former Newcastle midfielder Temuri Ketsbaia's magnificently manic celebration against Bolton Wanderers in 1997.

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