Viktor Gyökeres has trademarked his goal celebration gesture, which he revealed is inspired by the character Bane from 'The Dark Knight' Batman trilogy. The trademark application was submitted at the beginning of last year and was approved in mid-September, with the registration process taking several months to complete. However, the registration only covers a photo of a moment during the celebration, not the celebration in its entirety, limiting its scope to still images rather than the full motion or sequence of actions.
This move follows a similar action by Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, who trademarked his goal celebration as a motion mark, which includes a video of him performing the gesture, allowing for broader protection of the dynamic celebration. Professional football players are increasingly wanting to register their goal celebrations, as such gestures become key elements of their personal branding and public identity. The purpose of trademarking a goal celebration is to prevent others from selling products and services linked to the celebration and to control the commercial exploitation of the player's personal brand, ensuring that any merchandise or endorsements align with their image.
Nobody cared until I put on the mask.
Gyökeres' trademark comes amid a prolific scoring run for Sweden, highlighting his rising prominence in international football. He scored three goals when Sweden defeated Ukraine 3–1 last week, contributing significantly to the team's victory, and he added another match-deciding goal on Tuesday, further cementing his status as a key player for the national side.