Why Wolves striker Raul Jimenez celebrated FA Cup goal with WWE inspired mask
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez celebrated his FA Cup semi-final goal against Watford by paying homage to his countryman Sin Cara.
The centre-forward tucked home at Wembley, went behind the goal and pulled on a WWE inspired mask, much to the delight of both Wolves and wrestling fans.
What is the meaning of the mask? Five things you need to know…
- Jimenez’s celebration saw him put on a mask inspired by WWE star and fellow Mexican, Sin Cara.
- The two sportsmen are friends following Jimenez’s time spent in Portugal playing for Benfica.
- Despite Jimenez’s switch to the Premier League, Sin Cara still follows the £30 million man and gifted him with a personalised mask.
- The mask has been adapted to match the colours of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
- The celebration coincided with major wrestling event ‘WrestleMania’ which takes place on Sunday evening.
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The Wolves striker became friends with Sin Cara during his spell at Benfica after the 27-year-old forward wore a mask in honour of the wrestler.
The wrestler responded by presenting Jimenez with a personalised mask of his own and said: “I returned the gesture making him a special edition mask, where we had the logo, at that time, of Benfica and he liked it a lot.
“I also gave him other masks, also mine, original so that he would have them as a collection or give them away. From there we began to talk, to have more contact.”
Goooool⚽️⚽️⚽️❗️
Excelente celebración amigo! 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/xAyNvE6AnX— CintaDeOro (@CintaDeOro) April 7, 2019
Unfortunately for Jimenez, the game ended in defeat for Wolves as Watford produced a stunning late comeback to book their place in the FA Cup final.
Not the only masked man
Jimenez’s celebration was unusual to say the least, but he isn’t the first Premier League footballer to don a mask upon finding the back of the opposition’s net.
Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has celebrated by wearing a ‘Black Panther’ inspired mask. The Gabon international said of his latest celebration: “I needed a mask which represents me and that’s the Black Panther. In Gabon we call the national team the Panthers!”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 20+ goals in six of the last seven seasons:
✓ 2012/13: 21 goals
𐄂 2013/14: 16 goals
✓ 2014/15: 25 goals
✓ 2015/16: 39 goals
✓ 2016/17: 40 goals
✓ 2017/18: 31 goals
✓ 2018/19: 22 goalsBut which Super-Auba are you? 🦸♂️ pic.twitter.com/N1NPGDtjqP
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 16, 2019
