There are many who have described scoring a goal as the best feeling in the world, even better than love-making. The theory, which was floated around for a long time in footballing circles, was rubbished by Real Madrid and Portugal star, Cristiano Ronaldo, who stated that it was the context of the goal that matters. He should know, right?
Still, some post-scoring celebrations have been talked about through the generations. Some of the more prominent names on the circuit have their own signature: Lionel Messi raising both arms and pointing to the skies, and Ronaldo twirling and spreading his arms and legs as he lands are a rage even with players from other sports.
Then there are celebrations meant to goad the opposition fans: Manchester United's Gary Neville kissing his badge in front of the Liverpool fans or Emmanuel Adebayor running the length of the field to slide on the turf in front of his former club Arsenal's fans while playing for Manchester City. Take that, losers.
Things came to a tipping point when Paulo di Canio pulled off a fascist salute while playing for Lazio. Greece's Giorgos Katidis was banned for life after raising a Nazi salute.
Bebeto and the baby
Brazil's 1994 World Cup win would go down as the most uninspiring one of them all in terms of the quality of football that was on display. But the Seleccao didn't disappoint in terms of celebrations. After scoring a goal against the Netherlands in the quarter-final, striker Bebeto, who had recently become a father, started a rock-the-cradle celebration along with teammates Romario and Mazinho. This would go on to become a rage among newly turned fathers over the years.
The Colombian players and their dance moves were also really catchy during the South American nation's superb run in the 2014 World Cup.
Roger Milla and his indomitable lions
Cameroon striker Roger Milla, at 42, became the oldest goal-scorer in World Cup history in World Cup 1994. Four years earlier, at 38, he had become a cult hero in Italy, orchestrating upsets, seemingly for fun, to make Cameroon the first African side to reach the quarter-final in a World Cup.
Everytime Milla scored a goal, he would rush to the corner flag and break into a trademark dance move, raising his right arm and turning his legs and twisting his hips and legs.
Gascoigne's late night shenanigans
It was Euro 1996 and England's star midfielder Paul Gascoigne was expected to lead his country to glory on home soil. Playing against Scotland, England were rampant and the much maligned playmaker scored one of best goals by anyone in an English jersey.
Gascoigne controlled the ball and lobbed it over a hapless defender's head before collecting it on the other side and volleying it home. The goalscorer lay on the floor and his fellow England players rushed in with bottles and sprayed water into Gascoigne's mouth. The reason? The England players were slammed by the local press for their late night drinking a few days earlier.
Balotelli's shirtless act
One wonders what would have happened had social media been as trigger-happy in the past as it is now. The year 2011-12 was truly Mario Balotelli's year. Earlier in the season, he took off his shirt during the Manchester derby, displaying a T-shirt with the words "Why always me?" written on it.
Italy were facing Germany during then Euro 2012 semi-final. Italy had already scored the first goal in the game and Balotelli took off his shirt to flaunt his muscles. It became a rage on social media, with hundreds of memes on the former Inter Milan forward's expressionless face while taking off his shirt.
King of Old Trafford
It is the mid-1990s and Manchester United are ruling the English Premier League with an iron fist. In the midst of it all is French forward Eric Cantona, who is well on his way to become a legend for the Red Devils.
Here, Cantona scores a truly world class goal, beating two defenders, making a surging run, and exchanging passes with Brain McLair before chipping the ball into the net. With his back turned to goal, Cantona looks around Old Trafford, his chest puffed out. The "Cantona stare" would go on to be one of the greatest moments in the league at the time.
The Gymnast
There were many contenders here, like former Manchester United Nani or the all-time top scorer in World Cups, Miroslav Klose. But the one who walks away with the prize is surely former Inter Milan and Newcastle United forward Obefami Martins.
The Nigerian would go on a series of backflips, throwing a serious challenge to some of the best gymnasts out there.
The corner flag
The aforementioned Milla made a party theme out of the corner flag but there are some who can't live without it. Australia's Tim Cahill popularised it over the years by running towards it and shadow boxing right in front of it. Cahill and his celebration move would go on to be extremely popular among Everton fans.
Cahill spent eight years at the Merseyside club, scoring 62 goals, and is widely regarded as the greatest Australian player of all-time.
The Netherlands' Klaas-Jaan Huntelaar
The prolific Schalke FC striker's celebratory move to run towards the corner flag before using it as a punching bag and kicking it also gained quite a fans-following. The world witnessed it when he took a penalty in injury time against Mexico in the 2014 World Cup.
The Knighthood
Back in 2006, Manchester City were nowhere close to being a force in England. Here, Benjamin Corradi scores a goal and is closely followed by teammate Joey Barton as he wheels away to the corner flag after scoring a goal.
Corradi uproots the corner flag and uses it as sword to "knight" a kneeling Barton, placing the prop on the latter's shoulders.
The robot
Some of the English players really took a liking to the "Robot dance" after scoring a goal. Liverpool (earlier) and Stoke City (now) striker Peter Crouch did it regularly during his younger days. Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge has put his own spin on the dance move, also using a robot rhythm, albeit with a little more twisting and swaying.
Fishing
Iceland is now famous for its celebrations. Their slow hand clap, popularly known as the Volcano clap, performed during Euro 2016 by the players and the fans sitting in the stands was something almost every pub team around the world tried to recreate.
The Nordic country is also known for some unusual celebrations, going to the extent of players assuming the roles of a fisherman and a fish. The "fish" was then lifted by a group of players like a trophy.
