Vinicius Jr. was firing on all cylinders in Real Madrid’s dominant performance at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, playing the final of the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The match saw Vinicius orchestrate a 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca, who look to be a shadow of their former selves, struggling in their domestic league.
The Brazilian winger delivered an assist and a goal, adding another title to Los Blancos’ illustrious collection. Vinicius capped off the match in style, slotting home a penalty in the 84th minute before unveiling a celebration that has sparked discussion across the footballing world.
Vinicius just about scored the penalty, managing to sneak it underneath the hands of the diving Pachuca goalkeeper, who almost kept it out successfully. After scoring, Vini wheeled away in a celebration we haven’t seen from him too many times—covering his eyes with one hand while making a finger gun gesture with the other and firing his finger gun ‘popp pop pop’ around while running.
The celebration has been associated with the combat game Call of Duty and has been dubbed “No-Look Call of Duty Celebration.” Fans have linked the celebration to the popular video game, suggesting it mimics the blind-fire mechanic. It also tells us that apart from being a baller, Vini Jr. enjoys some COD during his downtime.
Vinicius debuted the celebration earlier this year during a Champions League clash against Atalanta, further solidifying its association with his signature style. By repeating it in the final, it seems as if it’s going to become a trademark celebration of his.
The celebration has been enjoyed by many fans but has also sparked some backlash.
On one hand, fans have praised its originality, while the other viewpoint of some fans has reignited debates over the appropriateness of gun-related gestures in football. This is not the first time footballers have courted controversy with similar celebrations.
In 2014, during his time at PSG, Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani was handed a one-match ban and was also sent off after celebrating his goal with the action of shooting a rifle. In uncanny similarity, Cavani was also booked after scoring a penalty like Vinicius.
In more recent times, Manchester City’s Phil Foden also celebrated in the same sniper manner after scoring a hattrick against Brentford last season. While he wasn’t banned or sent off, there was the usual social media scrutiny on if it was an acceptable way to celebrate.
Given all of this context and backdrop, some wonder whether Vinicius might face disciplinary action. However, no such indications have emerged thus far. Interestingly, the timing and repetition of the celebration suggest it might be here to stay. Its debut against Atalanta marked his return from injury, and the choice to use it again hints that it’s now a Vinicius thing to do.
While the “No-Look Call of Duty Celebration” might receive divided reception, only time will tell if it becomes a staple in his repertoire of celebrations that usually involve some samba and other dance moves.
