Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai scored once in the 6-3 rout of Tottenham Hotspur this weekend in the Premier League. The Hungarian celebrated his goal with a unique gesture that the fans have been trying to decipher.
Mohamed Salah released the ball for Szoboszlai who slotted home the goal to put Liverpool 3-1 up. After the goal, the 24-year-old Hungarian ran to the byline to make a numerical gesture with his fingers – reading 39. In fact, this is not the first time he has done it. Last season, against Chelsea, Szoboszlai did the same celebration, showing three fingers in his right hand and a nine in his left hand. In fact, the ‘Nine’ signalling was so tricky (joining the tip of the thumb and the index finger to make an O and the remaining fingers lined against the O to make it look like 9), many fans thought Szoboszlai was showing the digit ‘0’.
But What Does the Celebration Mean?
Well, 39 is the jersey number of his former teammate at RB Leipzig, Benjamin Henrichs. The two had played together at the German club from 2021 to 2023. While Szoboszlai secured a £60 million move to Liverpool in the summer of 2023, Henrichs is still playing at Leipzig. It looks like Szoboszlai had a real bonding with the German international at the Bundesliga club and connects with his friend through his special celebrations every now and then.
When Leipzig came to England to play Manchester City in the Champions League last season, Szoboszlai didn’t miss the opportunity to meet up with his former teammate. The Hungarian midfielder, who has played 91 times for Leipzig, was seen sharing a warm moment with former manager Marco Rose and also linked up with his ex-teammate, Henrichs. With the 27-year-old German right-back, Szboszlai did the dap handshake and shared a tight hug before they were seen sitting together and sharing jokes.
Even when in opposite camps, the former Leipzig duo manages to find a friendly moment for themselves, as seen in an international match between Germany and Hungary. When asked about his time at Leipzig and who was his closest friend at the Bundesliga club, Szoboszlai said, “I still have a lot of contact with Benny Henrichs. We had a good time in Leipzig and have become friends.”
At Leipzig, they were seen together sharing celebrations, hanging out with each other, and just being wholesome. Maybe the 39 celebration is Szoboszlai’s way of sending a message to his Leipzig friend far away from England. Incidentally, the two friends went right up against one another in the Champions League this season, with Henrichs, at left-back, deputised to stop Szoboszlai on the right side of the Liverpool midfield.
Maybe we will get to know more about their friendship in due course. Hopefully we will also see Henrichs do a celebration in Germany acknowledging his pal, Szoboszlai. While the two professional footballers keep competing for important titles and uplifting the standards of their respective teams, these warm moments and connections built are what will live on beyond their careers.
