From the pigeon dance to Roger Milla's Makossa: songs that became celebrations at World Cups

Songs that became dances at the World Cup
Usually the memories that remain of a World Cup are the goals, fights and remarkable plays. But, in some cases, the celebration ends up being as remembered as the move that gave rise to it.
Over the last few decades, players have transformed dances, music and cultural expressions from their countries into symbols of the World Cup.
From Roger Milla dancing Makossa in 1990 to the choreographies of the Brazilian team in 2022, some celebrations helped to popularize local rhythms, promote songs and create images that remain alive in the imagination of fans.
For this reason, the g1 listed the most striking songs and choreographies in the history of the World Cup.
Roger Milla and his unique swing - 1990
Roger Milla dancing at the 1990 World Cup
FIFA / Social Networks
During the 1990 World Cup, Cameroonian Roger Milla took advantage of a mistake by Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita (known for his risky style of playing with feet) to score, in extra time, the goal that guaranteed Cameroon's unprecedented qualification for the quarter-finals.
In celebration, he ran to the corner flag and started dancing. Years later, he explained that the choice was spontaneous: "It was the sun that sent me there; it was a good place to dance on the field."
The movements were inspired by Makossa, the most popular musical genre in Cameroon, which emerged in the 1950s from the mixture of local rhythms with Congolese rumba, funk and soul.
Tshabalala's 'Macarena' at the African Cup - 2010
Siphiwe Tshabalala celebrating with his teammates
GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP
The first goal of the African World Cup in 2010 had a special weight, after all, it was also the first goal in the history of the World Cup on African soil.
When Siphiwe Tshabalala scored against against Mexico in the opening of the tournament, the shot quickly became a symbol of unity and pride for the African fans present in that edition.
But as remarkable as the kick was the celebration. Tshabalala and his teammates ran to the corner flag and performed a rehearsed dance, which became known as a kind of "African Macarena". 2010, would another style of dance be born?
That's exactly what happened to Pablo Armero, a Palmeiras player at the time, he went viral when he celebrated his teammates' goal in the 4-3 victory over Santos, in Vila Belmiro.
Four years later, the dance returned to the spotlight at the World Cup in Brazil. After scoring against Greece, Armero gathered his teammates and repeated the famous "Armeration".
The clumsy steps of Samuel Umtiti - 2018
Samuel Umtiti celebrating a goal against Belgium in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup
CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP
At the World Cup in Russia in 2018, Samuel Umtiti scored the goal that put France in the final by defeating Belgium in the semi-final.
After hitting the net, the defender walked towards the crowd and began a peculiar celebration: a mix of a clumsy walk and dance steps that quickly went viral among French fans.
The gesture was so successful that it inspired rapper Vegedream to release "Ramenez La Coupe à la Maison", a song that fueled the celebration of the French title and reached the top of the country's charts.
The 'Pagodão do Birimbola' by Neymar and company - 2022
'Pagodão do Birimbola': dance by the group Os Quebradeiras becomes a celebration of Brazil against South Korea
As football memes would say, Brazil did not win the World Cup in Qatar, but it put on a real show during the competition.
In the 4-1 victory over South Korea, Neymar, Lucas Paquetá, Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior celebrated one of the goals with the choreography of "Pagodão do Birimbola", a hit by the group Os Quebradeiras.
The track mixes funk with influences from Bahian pagodão and makes reference to the song "Tchubirabirom", by Parangolé. The group from Niterói went viral on social media with the dance, which had already been shared by Neymar even before the World Cup.
'Pagodão do Birimbola': dance by the group Os Quebradeiras becomes a celebration of Brazil against South Korea
The pigeon dance - 2022
Richarlison and Tite doing the 'pigeon dance'
Reproduction/TV Globo
In the same game against South Korea in 2022, Richarlison also left his goal.
In celebration, he repeated his now traditional "Pigeon Dance", inspired by the song created by MC Faísca in 2008 and popularized years later thanks to videos published by the attacker himself on social media.
It was such a success that even coach Tite joined in and reproduced the choreography on the edge of the field, in one of the most remembered images of the Brazilian campaign in Qatar.
'Pigeon Dance': author from the song that gave rise to Richarlison's nickname, today he is an app driver

Source: G1