Top 11 Goal Celebrations

Celebrations are a wonderful thing.
They not only allow you to see how much a goal means to the scorer, but they can also serve as talking points (you can even blog about them)! They also help to ensure that spectators will remember the goal forever.
Or at least until the player scores another, better goal with a better celebration.

Below are my Top 11 (in no particular order).

Cristiano Ronaldo's 'Calma'

Clinical finish? Check

Perfect assist? Check

Celebration that not only silences The Camp Nou but also humiliates Barca? Check, Check, Check and Check.

As a Madrid fan, I believe this is one of the greatest celebrations I will ever see.

While the celebration itself might be quite simple, the reasons and emotions behind it are what make it brilliant. Before this match, Barcelona were viewed as unbeatable. If any team visited the Camp Nou and drew a game, they would be happy.
Madrid beat them at their home and secured the league title in the process.

The reason for the 'Calma' is because Barcelona had just drawn level and looked destined to come from behind to win, until this goal, that is. This goal was Ronaldo's way of reminding Madridistas that he was still there, and he was not to be consider a 'choker' anymore.

Mario Balotelli's 'Hulk'

No one can blame 'Super Mario' for celebrating this way.
Not only did he score a beautiful goal, timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, but he scored against a tournament favourite. Before the game, his agent said that Balo would score a hat-trick against Germany, after this as his second, everyone thought it was a possibility. 

This celebration is so outlandish, so unexpected and so loved that it even inspired hundreds of memes. 

Miroslav Klose's 'Flip'

Klose's flip celebration is one which has been seen so many times, but it never gets old. While he may be performing it much less due to his ageing, whenever it makes an appearance, it always gets the crowd going. I hope I'll get to see much more of it some day. I mean, how often does a 1.8m tall guy do flips the way he does?

The 'Ai Se Eu Te Pego'

This celebration has been done by so many players that it was even added to FIFA and PES games. Players from all over the world have used this dance to celebrate their goals and I just wish I could see more. It's a fun dance, even though its meaning is a bit weird when you consider that the players are doing the dance while facing each other.

It's still awesome though! Just watch the video below and you'll see what I mean by 'all over the world'.

Bas Savage's 'Studded Moonwalk'

Yes, that photo is from FIFA 13.
I had to use the photo above because I couldn't find a photo of Bas Savage doing the Moonwalk that had a good enough resolution.
You might think it can't be done, How can someone Moonwalk with studded boots on?
Don't worry, seeing is believing:

Peter Crouch's 'Robotic Stick Insect'

He's over 2 metres tall. I hope you weren't expecting him to be doing acrobatic moves.

I love it when celebrations are unexpected and while he might look like an extra-awkward stick insect, he does have some extra smooth dance moves.*

*sort of. 

Wayne Rooney's 'Hug Me' 

Wayne has only performed this celebration once (I think), and while it may look ridiculous, I think no one has the right to criticise it. 

He did just score one of the most beautiful goals of all-time, after all.

Eric Cantona's 'Kneel Before The King' 

Never known to one of the more modest footballers, Cantona's celebration after his goal against Sunderland in 1996 sums up Cantona as a footballer perfectly.

The near-flawless technique, the trickery, the clinical finishing, the cockiness, the collar and the magic.

That is Cantona.

Mario Balotelli's 'Why Always Me?' 

I'd sum up the Beauty of Balotelli with three words. "Football's Kanye West."

He's always going do things which make you think that he is the most arrogant person to ever breathe, but sometimes he'll just do something so amazing that will make you believe everything he says about himself. Even if it's just for ninety minutes.

This celebration took place during a Manchester Derby after Mario calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net. With a vacant expression on his face, he lifted up his jersey to reveal the words 'Why Always Me?' printed on his undershirt. 

True Lad.

Bafana Bafana's 'Diski Dance'

After Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first goal of the 2010 World Cup, I'm sure everyone expected something 'meh.' like a fist-pump or knee-slide. Instead, we were treated to some of the freshest moves most of us have probably ever seen. 

Team celebrations are always wonderful, it shows great chemistry and lovely teamwork, so how can anyone not love the dance?

Cristiano Ronaldo's 'LOOK AT MAH THIGH'

Well, LOOK AT IT.

While many people think Ronaldo was just being vain when he did this celebration, people who know the actual story just view it as Cristiano showing his fun side. 

CR7 did this celebration after scoring a powerful goal from quite a distance. After scoring, he turned towards the bench and revealed his thigh and pointing to it. 

The reason for this is that he was teasing Antonio Adán, Madrid's substitute keeper, before Iker (is it too soon for this joke? Sorry). He teased Antonio because he rarely works on his legs in the gym due to laziness and Ronaldo did it to show him was exercise can do.

Poking fun and thighs, ah, Cristiano.

Not so vain anymore, right?

If I missed any celebrations, you can let me know.

I'm not claiming that this is a definitive list, these are just my 11 favourite celebrations.
Also, I know the quality of some of the clips aren't exactly crisp, but something doesn't have to be HD to be beautiful. The idea always counts for more.