Qatar’s Akram Afif celebrates goal in Asian Cup final with magic trick

Qatar’s forward Akram Afif (11) celebrates after scoring a goal on a penalty during the AFC Qatar 2023 Asian Cup final against Jordan Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Akram Afif was the hero for Qatar as the country captured its second straight AFC Asian Cup title over Jordan on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Afif, who plays for Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd, recorded a hat trick during the 3-1 win at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. He finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with eight goals.

We’ve seen many different types of celebrations for goals in soccer, but have you ever seen a player pull off a magic trick after scoring? That’s exactly what Afif did after his first goal of the game.

After beating Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Laila, Afif started to run to the corner, stopped and pulled a trading card of himself out of his sock. After showing it to the camera, he shook his hand and a card with an “S” on it was revealed.

Afif explained after the match the “S” was a tribute to his wife.

“S is the first letter of my wife’s name,” he said. “It was her first time at the stadium.”

If you couldn’t figure out how Afif pulled off his trick after the first goal, he gave viewers a close up after converting his second penalty of the game.

There was no magic trick after Afif completed his hat trick, instead just joyful celebrations as Qatar claimed another Asian Cup title.