Why Franck Kessie Saluted After Scoring Against Germany
Ivory Coast faced Germany overnight, between Saturday and Sunday, in the second match of Group 5 at the 2026 World Cup, and Franck Kessie gave the Ivorians the lead in the 30th minute. After scoring, the midfielder celebrated with a salute, a gesture he has used before.
Kessie said the salute is dedicated to his late father, who served in the Ivory Coast army and later died of an illness. In a previous account of his personal story, Kessie explained: "My father was a footballer. He died of a disease after joining the army, and I was only 11 at the time. Every time I make a military gesture, it is in his memory."
The celebration drew attention because it combined the goal, the gesture, and Kessie's personal tribute on a stage where Ivory Coast was trying to upset Germany. The article identifies the moment as part of the 2026 World Cup.
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