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Brazil’s goalkeeper Alisson, Senegal coach Aliou Cissé, Diego Maradona and Harry Maguire’s partner Fern Hawkins
Brazil’s goalkeeper Alisson, Senegal coach Aliou Cissé, Diego Maradona and Harry Maguire’s partner Fern Hawkins have brightened our World Cup days. Photograph: Getty Images/ AP / REUTERS
Brazil’s goalkeeper Alisson, Senegal coach Aliou Cissé, Diego Maradona and Harry Maguire’s partner Fern Hawkins have brightened our World Cup days. Photograph: Getty Images/ AP / REUTERS

The World Cup in memes – from Mexican grandma to Fern Hawkins

This article is more than 5 years old

Anyone might have predicted that Maradona and Neymar would lend their talents to the World Cup meme gallery. But no one saw the Korean consul-general in Mexico City coming

They said we’d be talking about Michy Batshuayi for weeks. When his face unexpectedly met the thermoplastic polyurethane of a Telstar 18, that marriage of Michy and ball seemed to be it. Can’t be topped. Meme of the tournament.

But then Neymar rolled. And Jesse Lingard picked up the phone to his mum.

Memes are by their nature ephemeral, but this World Cup, with its glorious upsets and violent delights, has made them doubly so. We’ve tried to capture the greatest memories of the tournament so far. An honourable mention to It’s Coming Home – a fine meme that, like any crowd-pleasing sitcom character, has already been spun off for its own full article and won’t be appearing here.

The human rights derby

Before we could be washed by the cleansing tide of football into what Daniel Storey called the safe harbour of WorldCupsville – the first match and meme of the competition was a reminder that we live in the real world.

The cursed triptych of Gianni Infantino, Vladimir Putin and Mohammad bin Salman sharing an awkward shrug in Russia’s 5-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia launched a thousand memes.

#RUSKSA pic.twitter.com/lxcbbJWQLw

— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) June 14, 2018

When you beat your friend 5-0 in FIFA pic.twitter.com/q8zAluX2JD

— Bokoen1 (@bokoen1) June 14, 2018

Putin shake that hand like.... "We still building the pipeline right dawg?"🤣🤣🤣🤣

— senator_forde (@Kerwyn_Forde) June 14, 2018

Weeks later, Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović gave us a much more joyous, palate-cleansing celebration opposite Dmitry Medvedev as Russia narrowly crashed out of the quarters.

Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev (right) is not amused by the celebration by Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović (left in red & white) #RUS #CRO #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/gn0K1FX6Sd

— Marcus Gilmer (@marcusgilmer) July 7, 2018

Throw-in masterclass

Iran’s Milad Mohammadi added a frankly unnecessary degree of difficulty to the relatively straightforward procedure of getting the ball back into play.

Milad Mohammadi arrived in Russia with the sole intention of becoming a meme and I have a lot of time for that. #IRNSPA pic.twitter.com/siZiBaBsgG

— Tom Clazie Flynn (@TomClazieFlynn) June 20, 2018


Mexican grandma

The shock of the first round of matches, which in turn led to the shock of the group stage, was surely Mexico’s swashbuckling victory over Germany. On Twitter, fans attributed the win to one very special woman.

I’m 100% convinced my grandma was the reason Mexico won pic.twitter.com/9jBRF5wFPE

— paola (@paola__janet) June 17, 2018

Enraged Australian viewers

Australian memories of Argentina v Iceland and Serbia v Costa Rica may be a bit hazier than most, thanks to a hilarious implosion from local telco Optus, who snaffled up the exclusive rights to a swath of games but then failed to stream them properly.

The recriminations spawned incredible memes as an aggrieved nation took turns dunking on the beleaguered network.

my stream quality just dropped from FIFA 18 to FIFA 14

— Nick Evershed (@NickEvershed) June 16, 2018

Not sure why everyone is complaining. My Optus stream is crystal clear. #OptusSport #WorldCup #ARGvICE #SBSTheWorldGame pic.twitter.com/Zenp942AfT

— Mena (@alldaymena) June 16, 2018

pic.twitter.com/Lya0qsQKvV

— Jon Piccini🌹 (@JonPiccini) June 18, 2018

Cissé’s celebrations

Aliou Cissé and his Senegal team were many neutrals’ favourite, not least for this masterclass against Poland.

Aliou Cissé is me when there's free food at work pic.twitter.com/n9cAyF58IC

— Dan Molloy (@DanMolloyTV) June 19, 2018

BIG BIG MOOD pic.twitter.com/ApUsuDCuB3

— amadí 🇸🇳 (@amadoit__) June 19, 2018

Aliou Cissé when Tony Meola talks like Senegal should just be happy to be here. pic.twitter.com/6qDzeWDvJB

— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) June 19, 2018

Aliou Cissé is me when the DJ finally plays my song and then switches to the remix before the first verse even finishes. pic.twitter.com/FMoPHmlvxL

— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) June 19, 2018

Alisson bursts our bubble

You have to love a meme that can do so much heavy lifting. Brazil’s exit? Germany’s? Spain’s? It all works. Alisson’s stamp, from Brazil’s opening draw with Switzerland, could be memed to apply to almost everything.

Label the ball as Germany and Alisson as Son Heung-Min. Label one England and the other, well, England. The possibilities were endless.

Alisson is life. The ball is my dreams. pic.twitter.com/yWra2xAMPp

— André Noruega (@AndreOstgaard) June 17, 2018

pic.twitter.com/PNEFAsfVC5

— 🇵🇦 PanamAlex Quinn 🇵🇦 (@alxqnn) June 17, 2018

Gif del día,no? Gracias @Rodolfo_Gremio pic.twitter.com/8HdmQCtC3P

— Martin Charquero (@MartinCharquero) June 17, 2018

Simon Schama chips in

Not strictly a meme, but the owning of top brainy historian Simon Schama deserves its own special place in the World Cup memory bank.

@alanshearer and everyone going on about how England should just enjoy the football and play loose massively underestimates the inevitable stomach-knotting teeth-gritting nervy wrench of the first game

— Simon Schama (@simon_schama) June 18, 2018

You do know that I have played in these games right? https://t.co/dyzvsH9Olp

— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) June 18, 2018


Rolling Neymar

All good narratives need a through-line, so God bless you Neymar Jr. The Brazilian’s antics were one of the truly transcendent memes of this tournament, stretching from the group stage into the knockouts. It began with a dive against Costa Rica, then really took off as he rolled in mock agony in the match against Mexico.

Neymar's a joker. #BRACRC #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/oneyVAEs8n

— Anup Kaphle (@AnupKaphle) June 22, 2018

Whenever Neymar sees a Costa Rica player😂 #BRAxCRC #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/x44wEy2Fcl

— FIFA #WorldCup🏆 🌎 (@WorldcupAgender) June 22, 2018

Lmaoo Poor Neymar won’t live this one down pic.twitter.com/q4yhnXh21I

— Eric Preciado (@_EricPreciado) July 2, 2018

Neymar Rolling Memes Compilation ...cause why not? #WorldCup #Neymar pic.twitter.com/4yAc60yyC0

— S A M (@Cruyffootball) July 3, 2018

#NeymarChallenge became a meme in every continent.

¡Qué crack! 🇲🇽👊🏼😂 #NeymarChallenge pic.twitter.com/5cR7dnIQJP

— ElbaJiménezHummelsNadalG (@elbajimenez9) July 7, 2018

Coach Tite’s celebrations also became memes by association. One was beautifully simple: he fell over. The other got the rather abstract Shooting Stars treatment.

Tite with a brilliant celebration! #BRACRC #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/qoP8nMt2X4

— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) June 22, 2018

That Tite Dive. Neymar clearly learned the trade from his Coach pic.twitter.com/DUhuWA9H52

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 22, 2018

“Over the bar”

The iconic chant was already de rigueur among Nigerian fans, but when Iceland’s Gylfi Sigurdsson skied his penalty into the stands, the celebratory videos of Super Eagles fans brought a catchy new chant to the world.

Every Nigerian household as they watch that Iceland penalty😂😂 pic.twitter.com/4k3QNgivsC

— THE M1 SHOW🌊 (@TheM1Show) June 22, 2018

Diego Armando Maradona

Another constant throughout the group stages and beyond, Maradona’s antics in the stands – for better or worse – became an instant meme.

He sniffed during Argentina v Iceland:

Think Maradona must have a cold or hayfever 🤔#WorldCup #ARG pic.twitter.com/G0WWBJBXCn

— betclever (@bet_clever) June 16, 2018

And went off during Argentina v Nigeria, cutting short his tactile celebrations only to give the finger to opposing fans:

Omg Maradona! 😂😂😂 #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/FZCA2NKCBd

— LorenaPopa🕵️‍♀️ 🏆🥖👑 (@popalorena) June 26, 2018

Argentina fans rn pic.twitter.com/8rJ2ZfNKlU

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2018

😂😂😂 llorooooo jajajajajajaja #Maradona #Rusia2018 #Queen pic.twitter.com/get5GS5PL1

— Marcia Parodi (@marparodi_mp) June 27, 2018

Diego Maradona is the gift that keeps on giving. pic.twitter.com/Pl6GHG1eu1

— amadí 🇸🇳 (@amadoit__) June 26, 2018

Corea, hermano, ya eres mexicano”

A fantastic cross-continental meme emerged in the aftermath of Korea’s 2-0 defeat of Germany. With the Koreans’ victory saving Mexico from elimination, a beautiful friendship bloomed between the two countries.

From random fans in the street:

The Mexicans found a South Korean outside the stadium 😂 pic.twitter.com/9gG7V9wtOd

— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) June 27, 2018

I’m going to Korea Town today and will hug and thank every single person I run into. Gracias Korea pic.twitter.com/g1sVW3NXxZ

— Abe (@Abe_A93) June 27, 2018

To the Korean consul-general absolutely partying down:

That’s the Korean consul general to Mexico, Byoung-Jin Han, celebrating with grateful Mexican fans outside the Korea embassy here. One fan said he took a shot of tequila with them earlier. pic.twitter.com/NGWEmRADUW

— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) June 27, 2018

One last tweet about Byoung-jin Han: that tequila shot he took while wearing a Mexico jersey lent to him by a fan? Another fan @sebasaspe passed this along: pic.twitter.com/JtCAe8390y

— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) June 27, 2018

I’m just out here shopping in Mexico and- pic.twitter.com/p8oYA08g6M

— 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽ً (@emilyjackyy) June 28, 2018

Michy Batshuayi

Belgium 1-0 England. A goalpost 1-0 Batshuayi.

The Belgian striker’s face-smashing celebration was instantly earmarked as a meme of the tournament – made all the sweeter by the fact that he’d missed three or four chances in the previous game against Tunisia.

close up batshuayi pic.twitter.com/r77Zjz0b1v

— Pharrell (@Phavee) June 28, 2018

Ahahha I knew I would be f*cked the minute I come to my mentions 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 why am I so stupid bro 🤦🏾‍♂️ shit hurts

— Michy Batshuayi (@mbatshuayi) June 28, 2018

Guys it's all good between them 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/1fLdTTc1eE

— Axel Witsel (@axelwitsel28) June 28, 2018

When I was 19

Kylian Mbappé’s double against Argentina made him the first teenager since Pelé to net two goals in the knockout stages. What have you ever done?

A performance like that on world's stage 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. At 19 I was being rejected by Brighton 😂 #Mbappe

— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) June 30, 2018

#Mbappè is 19 and he ripped apart Argentina.. when I was 19 I was watching #sooryavansham on #Setmax while having samosas and then was askin mom to pick up the plate #FRAARG #FIFAWorldCup 😬

— Vivek Raveendran (@Vivek7611) July 1, 2018

Mbappe is 19 and just won a world cup knock up game. When I was 19 I got a caution at uni for starting a fire in my uni halls from leaving a fork in the microwave

— Billie (@Billie_T) June 30, 2018

Jordan Pickford’s old tweets

On the topic of youth, England’s penalty hero against Colombia and man of the match against Sweden, Jordan Pickford, got the meme treatment after grateful fans discovered his old tweets – back when he was a non-league novice at clubs like Alfreton just waiting for his Nandos.

Love when twitter is flowing with all the banta. Keeps the night going

— Jordan Pickford (@JPickford1) May 20, 2012

Keep looking in mirror and thinking wow, my spots are massive

— Jordan Pickford (@JPickford1) April 19, 2012

You look beautiful bro dw

— RA$ELL (@OnlyTheSuave) July 7, 2018

Think nandos is on the cards

— Jordan Pickford (@JPickford1) October 15, 2013

You deserve it mate xoxo https://t.co/xAQl7CqkLO

— Hannah🌼 (@HannahDaisy) July 7, 2018

Give him fucking shares. https://t.co/91qa90lqcW

— helen (@jenkinsisgood) July 7, 2018

Fern burns

England’s Harry Maguire stepped into the meme limelight with his tremendous forehead’s opening goal against Sweden. This picture of Maguire and his partner Fern Hawkins – which, agonisingly, resembles Distracted Boyfriend but has not yet been combined with it – took off after Kyle Walker’s expert roast.

Yeah so a good header doesn’t hurt. I mean the moment you head it proper, you feel it’s a good one. Know what I mean love? pic.twitter.com/a5b8UqDjv2

— Kyle Walker (@kylewalker2) July 7, 2018

"Never heard of Tonys? Its a fish and chip shop in Sheffield. Grew up a few doors down. Chips, battered sausage and curry sauce every night growing up. I'll treat ya when we get back." #maguire #madeinmosborough pic.twitter.com/ARRrvcOj76

— James State (@Stateside84) July 6, 2018

Maguire and Hawkins have put their own spin on it, so clearly approve.

“Can you ask the neighbours to put the bins out on Monday? We’re not going home just yet” 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/s1g3P3jj34

— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) July 8, 2018

😆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿♥️ https://t.co/Vom7mlWuFP

— Fern Hawkins ★ (@_fernhawkins) July 8, 2018

And finally...

The prediction that wasn’t that much further off the mark than most of the others.

Who will win the World Cup?
A child who believes in a peaceful world.

— Yoko Ono (@yokoono) February 14, 2017

your idealism is inspirational but the reality is that even the likes of Qatar would put dozens past him.

— Gerry Parker (@Gerry_Parker69) February 16, 2017

That child is named Ronaldo Pelé, and he has a foot the size of a lawnmower https://t.co/AyGggGGDcJ

— popular comedy account “the pixelated boat” (@pixelatedboat) June 24, 2018

ok we all ragged on yoko's tweet but she could be right pic.twitter.com/8bIikiMcok

— Naaman Zhou (@naamanzhou) July 2, 2018

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