Kansas City Current forward Lo’eau LaBonta went viral over the weekend after converting a sizzling penalty kick against Angel City during Friday’s 1-1 draw. The penalty was sweet, but it was the celebration from the 29-year-old that caught the internet’s attention. This LaBonta celebration is an all-timer.
With her team trailing in the 82nd minute LaBonta fired in the equalizer from the penalty spot and wheeled away in celebration. KC fans were given a slight heart attack when their team’s top goal scorer on the season started limping and grabbed at her hamstring.
LaBonta Celebration
Lo'eau LaBonta faked the hamstring injury for the celebration
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 20, 2022
the celly queen @L0momma | #TealRising pic.twitter.com/i1ziUV89fg
— KC Current (@thekccurrent) August 20, 2022
Death of Achilles, by Peter Paul Rubens, 1630-35, and twerking Korean statue from @klumlee, s from @thekccurrent pic.twitter.com/pK86jDvmMO
— ArtButMakeItSports (@ArtButSports) August 20, 2022
The video has surpassed 1 million views on Twitter and even more on other social media apps.
LaBonta’s celebration was a mix of some great cellys we’ve seen in the past. During USMNT qualification Antonee Robinson scared fans with the fake hamstring injury move after his goal vs. El Salvador.
aaaaannnndddd.... we're flippin'
♂️♂️♂️ @antonee_jedi ♂️♂️♂️ pic.twitter.com/8tiyj37Zof— USMNT (@USMNT) January 28, 2022
Six years ago, MLS legend Kei Kamara was given a yellow card when he started twerking after goal.
MLS'de New England Revolution'da forma giyen Kei Kamara attığı golün sevincini 'twerk' dansıyla yapınca sarı kartla cezalandırıldı. pic.twitter.com/4Zwkaod7RU
— Fanatik (@fanatikcomtr) October 24, 2016
LaBonta wasn’t punished for her goal celebration.
When asked about her celebration LaBonta said someone on Twitter suggested it to her.
"Female soccer players tend to just all go to each other and Kumbaya [on celebrations] and we love that," LaBonta said. "But I think we really want to start making it a little more fun and having individual celebration. So that was sent to me on Twitter and I said ‘bet.’”
