Thierry Henry to Mathieu Valbuena, decoding football’s enduring knee-slide celebration | OneFootball

The knee-slide celebration remains a fixture in 2026, its image as current as ever. Arsenal’s history supplies its bronze emblem, Thierry Henry on his knees after a legendary run in the 3-0 against Tottenham on 16 November 2002, commemorated outside the Emirates.

According to L'Équipe, the habit persists across generations despite the occasional mishap. Strasbourg forward Joaquin Panichelli celebrated an opener at Lille in a 4-1 match on matchday 19, and Le Havre’s Kenny Quetant, 19, slid after the first league goal of his career against Angers in a 2-1 match on matchday 17.

The template has been popularised by stars such as Didier Drogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Antoine Griezmann, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé. Many head for the corner flag, where cameras capture loops that live on.

Sports scientist Charles Debris sees a simple bond with the surface, players are at home on grass and are inclined to drop, kneel and glide, without any strong psychological meaning. There is room for personal flair, and striker Ibrahima Baldé describes the act as pure fun he often repeats, learned by mimicry from childhood and never overplanned.

The risks are real. Mathieu Valbuena’s failed Marseille v Nice attempt in a 2-2 draw on 11 November 2012 remains viral, and Benoît Cheyrou recalls his knee sticking, a tumble and a ridiculous look, with team-mates teasing him even as they enjoyed his goal.

For Baldé it comes down to the player, luck and the pitch. He avoids it on dry, rutted surfaces, and says he has never been hurt, only lifted, while sharing a brief burst of communion with the crowd that belongs to the scorer alone.

Source: L'Équipe