One of soccer’s most iconic celebrations unfolded at the Maracanã on Sunday, courtesy of an NFL kicker.
Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop hit a 56-yard field goal as time expired Sunday to beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31, then celebrated with Cristiano Ronaldo’s “Siu” as the crowd at Maracanã Stadium repeated it back.
“Siu” is Ronaldo’s celebrated goal celebration in which he jumps, spins in the air and lands with his legs wide and arms out to the sides while shouting “Siuuu”, a stretched version of the Spanish word for “yes”.
Loop said teammate Ryan Eckley had suggested a football-style knee slide after a big hit. He went with “Siu” instead. With about three minutes left, Loop said, teammate Nick Moore told him, “We’re going to do something epic to win this game.”
“Our number was called and Nick (Moore) and Ryan and the guys up front all did their job so I can do mine,” Loop said. “I am very proud of this team.”
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey made a 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 31 with seven seconds left. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson then completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers and called a timeout with one second left, which set up the Loop touchdown.
The game was the NFL’s third in Brazil and first in Rio de Janeiro, and the announced crowd was 72,792. It was the first American football game played at the Maracanã.
The blow came after missing out on last season’s final. Loop missed a 44-yard field goal that would have sent the Ravens into the playoffs, and Baltimore lost 26-24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He said the team responded to adversity this season.
“One thing we talked about was being in a deal,” Loop said. “There was disaster, and then we went and responded, and saved it, and it was great.”
He said the bond with his teammates is what he values most in sports.
“That’s the most special thing about this sport, the camaraderie and togetherness you can build with those guys,” Loop said. “It’s a blast to see all of this go through a lot of adversity from last season and now.”
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