The iconic Champions League celebration of Chelsea great Didier Drogba graced the Alexandra Palace stage yesterday during the PDC World Darts Championship.
Darts superstar Luke Littler, who’s still only aged 17, copied the celebration of the Chelsea legend on New Year’s Day.
Littler booked his spot in the World Darts Championship semi-final after a dominant 5-2 win over Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals. Next, the teenage sensation will face Stephen Bunting on Thursday night for a place in Friday’s final.
Didier Drogba, who retired back in 2018, has cemented his legacy as an iconic striker in the sport. In particular, he’s most recognised for 164 goals in 381 Blues appearances across two spells at Stamford Bridge.
Drogba’s crowning moment was guiding Chelsea to lifting the Champions League back in 2012 by beating Bayern Munich in their own backyard. The Ivory Coast frontman hit his iconic celebration after levelling the European final at 1-1 in Munich. Afterwards, he’d go on and score the winner in a penalty shootout to win Chelsea the first of their two Champions Leagues.
- READ MORE: Didier Drogba admits he really regrets not playing with ‘complete’ current Chelsea player
Littler on copying Drogba celebration
Littler is well known as an avid Manchester United supporter. However, he confirmed that he mirrored Drogba’s Chelsea celebration during Wednesday night’s match against Aspinall for his friend in the crowd.
When asked if he replicated the Drogba celebration during the quarter-finals, Littler said via Sporting Life: “It was. My mate’s been pestering me for months and months to do it and he was in the crowd tonight. When I was walking off he done the celebration and I looked at him and I done it. Yeah, it was from FIFA.”
It’s not the first time that there’s been some Chelsea recognition at this current darts tournament.
Darts star Rashad Sweeting hit Cole Palmer’s celebration up on the World Darts Championship stage a couple of weeks ago.
Have Chelsea found their next Didier Drogba?
Drogba is one of the greatest centre-forwards to ever represent Chelsea, so it’s no real surprise that it’s been a struggle replacing him in the last decade.
In fairness, Diego Costa did a fabulous job leading the line for the Blues between 2014-17. The club has been crying out for a world-class No.9 for years, though.
In Nicolas Jackson, some people may feel he’s the new heir to Drogba’s throne at Chelsea.
It’s a decent start for Blues striker Jackson in his first year and a half at the club, scoring 26 goals in 63 matches across all competitions. But can he go on and rise to the biggest occasions like Drogba so frequently did?
Thierry Henry thinks Chelsea’s Jackson is becoming the real deal as the 23-year-old forward progresses and tries to create his own legacy in West London.
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