By Mohamed Atherulla Shariff
It begins with a perfectly timed attack. The ball is worked swiftly from midfield down the left flank before a precise cross finds 18-year-old Lamine Yamal at the far post. He slides in to score, sending the stadium into raptures. His teammates rush to embrace him, but after the celebrations subside, Yamal steps away, raises his hands, kneels, and gently places his forehead on the ground in sujood, the Islamic act of prostration in gratitude to Allah.
It is a simple gesture lasting only a few seconds, yet it speaks volumes. On football’s grandest stage, Muslim athletes are increasingly expressing their faith with confidence, humility and dignity. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has made these moments more visible than ever before, turning sujood into one of the tournament’s most recognisable symbols of religious expression.
In Islam, sujood is the highest expression of humility before God. During daily prayers, believers kneel and place their forehead and hands on the ground, symbolising complete submission to the Creator. Many Muslims believe it is the moment when a worshipper is closest to God. When footballers perform sujood after scoring a goal or winning a match, they are not celebrating themselves as much as acknowledging the source of their success. It is an act of gratitude rather than self-glorification.
For years, Muslim footballers have celebrated goals in this manner, but never has the practice received as much global attention as it has during this World Cup. One of the defining images came when Egypt fought back from a goal down to defeat New Zealand 3-1. Mohamed Salah equalised, celebrated with sujood, and inspired his team to complete the comeback. At the final whistle, the entire Egyptian squad prostrated together on the pitch – a powerful image of collective thanksgiving that resonated with millions of viewers around the world.
Lamine Yamal represents a new generation of European Muslim footballers who are proudly embracing both their national identity and their religious faith. Having joined Barcelona’s academy as a child, he has become one of football’s brightest young stars while remaining unapologetic about his beliefs. He is not alone. England’s Djed Spence became the first Muslim player to start for the national team in a match against Ghana, while Sweden’s Yasin Ayari celebrated his goals against Tunisia with sujood. These scenes reflect the changing face of European football, where multiculturalism is increasingly becoming the norm rather than the exception.
The influence of sujood now extends well beyond football. Muslim cricketers, Olympic athletes and fighters have all incorporated it into their celebrations. Some have even faced criticism for doing so. In 2014, NFL player Husain Abdullah was controversially penalised after performing sujood following a touchdown. Yet despite occasional resistance, the practice has continued to gain acceptance and visibility.
Interestingly, the gesture has also crossed religious boundaries. Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo attracted widespread attention when he performed sujood after scoring for Saudi club Al-Nassr in 2023, while Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has incorporated similar prostrations into his training and expressions of gratitude. These examples suggest that gestures rooted in one faith can acquire a broader universal meaning of humility and thankfulness.
Nor is public religious expression unique to Muslims. Argentine legend Lionel Messi has frequently celebrated major goals by pointing towards the heavens and making the sign of the cross. Christian, Muslim and athletes of other faiths have long acknowledged their spiritual beliefs in moments of triumph. Such expressions rarely diminish sport; instead, they often humanise it by reminding audiences that behind extraordinary performances are individuals shaped by deeply held convictions.
The growing visibility of sujood also reflects the remarkable transformation of international football itself. National teams that were once relatively homogeneous have become increasingly diverse, bringing together players from different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. When teammates of different faiths celebrate one another’s religious expressions without hesitation, they send a powerful message that sporting excellence and religious diversity can coexist harmoniously. At a time when many societies are grappling with questions of identity and inclusion, these moments offer a compelling example of mutual respect.
For Muslim communities, especially those living as minorities, such public expressions carry particular significance. They provide representation, foster confidence among young Muslims and challenge outdated stereotypes that portray faith as incompatible with modern public life. Seeing elite athletes openly express their beliefs without compromising their professionalism reinforces the idea that religious identity can coexist with sporting excellence.
Yet one conclusion is increasingly difficult to dispute. The World Cup is no longer merely a showcase of footballing talent; it has also become a stage on which athletes express their identities, cultures and beliefs. Among the most striking symbols of this evolution is the quiet, humble act of sujood – a reminder that, for many of the world’s finest footballers, the greatest victories are accompanied not by pride alone but by gratitude.
