VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) 鈥� Twenty years ago, when Tim Cahill scored a late equalizer for Australia in its opening match against Japan at the 2006 World Cup, he ran directly to the corner of the field for a shadow boxing match with the corner flag.
Cahill鈥檚 celebration in the 3-1 victory has since become something of a tradition for the Australians at the
Months after Cahill鈥檚 retirement from soccer in 2019, at the Women鈥檚 World Cup during a match against Italy.
Kerr, then a budding star, would go on to reach the semifinals with the Matildas at the 2023 World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. In 2022, Kerr surpassed Cahill as Australia’s all-time leading scorer.
Now, another young Australian is adding his own chapter to that lineage.
When 20-year-old Nestory Irankunda became the youngest World Cup scorer in the nation’s history, with a goal in the on Saturday night, he paid tribute to the man who inspired so many Socceroos and Australian fans before him.
The young winger sprinted straight to the corner flag and threw a series of punches in a recreation of Cahill鈥檚 iconic celebration.
Like Cahill and Kerr before him, Irankunda has developed a signature of his own, known for backflips and Michael Jackson dance moves to celebrate goals. Post-goal swagger has become synonymous with Irankunda鈥檚 identity.
鈥淭im Cahill was my biggest inspiration in Australian football, and I look up to him,鈥� Irankunda said when asked about his celebration. 鈥淚 look up to him and I want to be like him one day and I鈥檓 really really proud of myself to get the goal.鈥�
Irankunda began his professional career in Australia, spending three seasons with Adelaide United before moving to Europe. In 2025, he made a permanent move to English club Watford.
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