Carolina Panthers star Tommy Tremble paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring the NFL's first touchdown of 2023. Tremble performed Ronaldo's trademark 'siu' celebration after scoring early against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Panthers went into Sunday's game against the Buccaneers knowing the play-offs were still in their sights, despite a poor record of six wins and nine defeats. They started the game brightly against their division rivals, with Tremble catching a Sam Darnold pass from close range and sprinting into the end zone to get the Panthers on the board.
Instead of spiking the ball, Tremble jogged in front of the cameras and leapt into the air, replicating Ronaldo's famous celebration that the newly-unveiled Al-Nassr striker has performed on countless occasions.
Tremble isn't the first NFL player to pay homage to the former Manchester United striker. Back in 2015, Odell Beckham Jr celebrated a 67-yard touchdown by performing the same celebration.
The Portuguese icon was even the subject of a contract offer from Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City, who were eager to sign the free agent over the past month.
Megastar Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was even enlisted to try and convince the striker to join him in Kansas City. The team's owners were eager to use the quarterback's success as evidence of the marketability the city could provide Ronaldo, and Mahomes was eager to do his part.
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SKC manager Peter Vermes explained that the team planned to give Ronaldo the chance to live life somewhat-anonymously, using Mahomes as an example, when compared to life in Europe.
"He can’t go anywhere in those places," Vermes said of Ronaldo. "Here, he can live his life. He can go out. He can go eat dinner. He can have a life that he can’t have in other places, which is a huge benefit."
Ultimately, Ronaldo opted to take his talents to Saudi Arabia, joining Al-Nassr on a two-year contract.
