Michail Antonio lifts a cardboard cutout of himself in celebration of becoming West Ham's leading Premier League goalscorer.
Michail Antonio lifts a cardboard cutout of himself in celebration of becoming West Ham's leading Premier League goalscorer.
Michail Antonio lifts a cardboard cutout of himself in celebration of becoming West Ham's leading Premier League goalscorer.
Michail Antonio lifts a cardboard cutout of himself in celebration of becoming West Ham's leading Premier League goalscorer.

Sport

Football

Michail Antonio marks West Ham record with memorable 'Dirty Dancing' celebration

English forward surpassed Di Canio's record with the first of his two goals against Leicester City

The National

August 24, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

It's not every day that a player becomes his club's all-time record Premier League goalscorer so the moment should be celebrated accordingly.

That is precisely what Michail Antonio did on Monday night when he surpassed Paul Di Canio as West Ham's top-scoring player of the Premier League era. After scoring his 48th top flight goal in the 4-1 win over Leicester City, Antonio grabbed a cardboard cut-out of himself and hoisted it in the air in the style of the famous dance from Dirty Dancing.

"We were talking earlier in the week, and I said 'you know what will be the best celebration? Save The Last Dance'," said Antonio, who also scored his 49th Premier League goal soon after.

"Maybe somebody could pick me up like Baby? But I got a cardboard cut-out and picked that up."

The 31-year-old English forward later admitted he got his movie reference wrong, but that was never going to dampen the celebrations or sense of accomplishment.

Antonio remains some way short of West Ham's all-time record goalscorers, with Vic Watson well out in front with the 298 league goals and 326 in all competitions during the 1920s and 30s, while Geoff Hurst scored 180 league goals and 249 in all competitions. Antonio has 51 goals in all competition for the Hammers.

However, it is still an impressive achievement for a player who has not always been playing as a regular striker. Antonio joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest as a winger in 2015 and was often deployed at right-back, before making his mark as the club's chief goal provider.

West Ham v Leicester player ratings

Lukasz Fabianski: 6 - The goalkeeper had little to do during the game, unable to deny Tielemans' finish in the box at the second attempt.
Lukasz Fabianski: 6 - The goalkeeper had little to do during the game, unable to deny Tielemans' finish in the box at the second attempt.
Vladimir Coufal: 7 - The right-back marauded down his flank throughout the game to create a threat for his side. His crossing was often dangerous.
Vladimir Coufal: 7 - The right-back marauded down his flank throughout the game to create a threat for his side. His crossing was often dangerous.
Craig Dawson: 6 - The centre-back had little to do but he was tidy in his passing when receiving the ball. He also offered a threat in the box when attacking crosses into the box.
Craig Dawson: 6 - The centre-back had little to do but he was tidy in his passing when receiving the ball. He also offered a threat in the box when attacking crosses into the box.
Angelo Ogbonna: 6 - Similar to his centre-back partner, he progressed the ball well and did his job when he needed to.
Angelo Ogbonna: 6 - Similar to his centre-back partner, he progressed the ball well and did his job when he needed to.
Aaron Cresswell: 7 - The left-back got up his flank well when on the ball, raining crosses in and looking a threat going forward.
Aaron Cresswell: 7 - The left-back got up his flank well when on the ball, raining crosses in and looking a threat going forward.
Declan Rice: 8 - The Hammers captain was integral in his side progressing the ball forward, accurate in his passing and carrying the ball well from deep.
Declan Rice: 8 - The Hammers captain was integral in his side progressing the ball forward, accurate in his passing and carrying the ball well from deep.
Tomas Soucek: 6 - Had a quieter game but picked up good pockets when needed to help circulate the ball.
Tomas Soucek: 6 - Had a quieter game but picked up good pockets when needed to help circulate the ball.
Jarrod Bowen: 8 - Had a busy night out wide for West Ham, playing lots of key passes and quality crosses.
Jarrod Bowen: 8 - Had a busy night out wide for West Ham, playing lots of key passes and quality crosses.
Said Benrahma: 8 - The winger put in a top performance for the Hammers, grabbing a goal and an assist.
Said Benrahma: 8 - The winger put in a top performance for the Hammers, grabbing a goal and an assist.
Pablo Fornals: 8 - Played as a second striker behind Antonio and caused the Leicester backline real problems. He scored the opening goal, finding space in the box to coolly finish in the bottom right corner.
Pablo Fornals: 8 - Played as a second striker behind Antonio and caused the Leicester backline real problems. He scored the opening goal, finding space in the box to coolly finish in the bottom right corner.
Michail Antonio: 10 - Grabbed two goals and an assist in a flawless performance up front. His first touch and strength made him a nuisance throughout for the backline of Leicester.
Michail Antonio: 10 - Grabbed two goals and an assist in a flawless performance up front. His first touch and strength made him a nuisance throughout for the backline of Leicester.
Mark Noble (For Benrahma 89’): N/R - Came on as West Ham looked to see out the game in the dying stages.
Mark Noble (For Benrahma 89’): N/R - Came on as West Ham looked to see out the game in the dying stages.
Andriy Yarmolenko (For Antonio 89’): N/R - The winger came on as fresh legs as the Hammers saw out the end of the game.
Andriy Yarmolenko (For Antonio 89’): N/R - The winger came on as fresh legs as the Hammers saw out the end of the game.
Kasper Schmeichel: 6 - The Denmark international made few mistakes and could do little to resist the four goals conceded. He made one great stop to deny Antonio from close range in the second half.
Kasper Schmeichel: 6 - The Denmark international made few mistakes and could do little to resist the four goals conceded. He made one great stop to deny Antonio from close range in the second half.
Luke Thomas: 5 - The youngster had a tough night, dealing with Coufal and Bowen on his side. He struggled in duels against the pair and had little support from his left-flank counterpart.
Luke Thomas: 5 - The youngster had a tough night, dealing with Coufal and Bowen on his side. He struggled in duels against the pair and had little support from his left-flank counterpart.
Caglar Soyuncu: 4 - The defender struggled and made a poor mistake for the second goal, passing the ball straight to Antonio in the box. club/league/player publications.
Caglar Soyuncu: 4 - The defender struggled and made a poor mistake for the second goal, passing the ball straight to Antonio in the box. club/league/player publications.
Daniel Amartey: 5 - The defender, much like the rest of his backline, struggled with the threat the Hammers posed them. He made a few clearances but overall struggled in the air.
Daniel Amartey: 5 - The defender, much like the rest of his backline, struggled with the threat the Hammers posed them. He made a few clearances but overall struggled in the air.
Ricardo Pereira: 6 - The right-back looked more secure in comparison to his partners, also offering a threat down the line when he was able to attack with the ball.
Ricardo Pereira: 6 - The right-back looked more secure in comparison to his partners, also offering a threat down the line when he was able to attack with the ball.
Wilfred Ndidi: 5 - The defensive midfielder owas often caught out with players getting beyond him in the midfield.
Wilfred Ndidi: 5 - The defensive midfielder owas often caught out with players getting beyond him in the midfield.
Youri Tielemans: 7 - Scored his first goal since his winner in the FA Cup final back in May. He picked up lots of the ball for Leicester and was crucial in how they progressed the ball forward.
Youri Tielemans: 7 - Scored his first goal since his winner in the FA Cup final back in May. He picked up lots of the ball for Leicester and was crucial in how they progressed the ball forward.
Harvey Barnes: 6 - Barnes had a quiet game but showed sparks of what he could do for Leicester. He produced chances when carrying the ball into the box and a key pass too.
Harvey Barnes: 6 - Barnes had a quiet game but showed sparks of what he could do for Leicester. He produced chances when carrying the ball into the box and a key pass too.
James Maddison: 7 - The playmaker looked like the Foxes’ biggest threat, picking up the ball in little pockets but not quite finding the right pass or run when it was needed.
James Maddison: 7 - The playmaker looked like the Foxes’ biggest threat, picking up the ball in little pockets but not quite finding the right pass or run when it was needed.
Ayoze Perez: 2 - The Spanish midfielder had little positive impact for his side. He received a red card for a horror challenge on Fornals in the first half and made it a challenge for his team to get back into the match.
Ayoze Perez: 2 - The Spanish midfielder had little positive impact for his side. He received a red card for a horror challenge on Fornals in the first half and made it a challenge for his team to get back into the match.
Jamie Vardy: 5 - The striker struggled to get in the match at all, as it passed by him. He had no touches in the box and had few in the final third.
Jamie Vardy: 5 - The striker struggled to get in the match at all, as it passed by him. He had no touches in the box and had few in the final third.
Patson Daka (For Barnes 65’): 5 - The forward came off the bench to help join up with Vardy but only got 3 touches during the match. He struggled to get involved as his side faded in the game.
Patson Daka (For Barnes 65’): 5 - The forward came off the bench to help join up with Vardy but only got 3 touches during the match. He struggled to get involved as his side faded in the game.
Kelechi Iheanacho (For Vardy 81’): N/R - The striker came on as fresh legs as Leicester looked to protect some of their key players.
Kelechi Iheanacho (For Vardy 81’): N/R - The striker came on as fresh legs as Leicester looked to protect some of their key players.
Boubakary Soumare (For Maddison 81’): N/R - The midfielder came off the bench as the Foxes looked to see out the game as to not concede more.
Boubakary Soumare (For Maddison 81’): N/R - The midfielder came off the bench as the Foxes looked to see out the game as to not concede more.
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Updated: August 24, 2021, 6:50 AM`
Premier LeagueWest Ham UnitedLeicester City