After Neymar's boot balancing antics in PSG's 2-0 win over Amiens last night, we're taking a look at players who have got their boots involved to celebrate a goal. It's been done many times before, and it'll no doubt be done again, but we've picked out seven of our most memorable ones.
Neymar is a showman, and when celebrating a goal he still feels that it's part of his job as a performer to entertain. As for the rest of the players on this list? You'd have to ask them. Regardless of their reasoning, it's a dream move for any brand. The perfect endorsement of extra-exposure.
Leo Messi | Nike would have no doubt been chuffed with Neymar's celebration last night, but it's nothing in comparison to Lionel Messi taking off his adidas F50 boot and kissing it after scoring in the 2009 Champions League Final against Manchester United. That's a on a different level entirely. Even if it was a header...
Juan Mata | Admittedly Juan Mata didn't have his celebration planned when he scored against Watford in February 2017. The Spanish midfielder's adidas ACE 17+ Purecontrol boot slipped off as he turned the ball home, and he celebrated by running off with the boot in his hand before throwing it high into the Old Trafford air.
Antoine Griezmann & Dimitri Payet | The old polish and kiss has been going on since football's were round, but the most memorable celebration in recent years came in EURO 2016. Dimi Payet celebrating Antoine Griezmann's strike in the Last 16 win over the Republic of Ireland, with Griezmann returning the favour when Payet notched against Iceland in the Quarter Final.
Nicolás Lodeiro | Uruguayan Nicolas Lodeiro has made it somewhat of a trademark to celebrate goals by using his boot as a phone. A celebration he started during his time at Boca Juniors, and one that he's continued to pull out in MLS with Seattle Sounders.
Nile Ranger | More infamous than famous, but that's Nile Ranger in a nutshell. The controversial striker took off his boot and used it as a gun during his Southend United days, before denying he was pretending to shoot the crowd, pointing towards the fact his form was like ammunition in his boots.
Kelly Smith | The 2007 World Cup provided the stage for Kelly Smith. The England striker struck twice in the final ten minutes against Japan and celebrated by taking off her Umbro boot and giving it a little kiss. See Nile, much nicer than pretending to shoot everyone.
Bonus: Michael Chopra | Chopra, who is surprisingly still only 34, was on fire at the start of the 2009/10 season with Cardiff City, and he was keen to show the crowd when he stuck one past Bristol City.
Boot celebrations, yep or no? What you saying?
