Scoring a goal is often met with jubilant celebrations – except when some of the game's biggest stars score against their former clubs.
While the trend is often ridiculed by traditional football enthusiasts, it has become a standard practice to show respect even to a club that previously treated the player with indifference.
We've reviewed the archives and discovered eight players who chose not to celebrate after scoring against their former teams.
Brahim Diaz
After spending his early career developing at Manchester City, Brahim demonstrated his appreciation for his former employers by scoring against them while playing for Real Madrid in 2025.
With his hands raised in a gesture of apology, the Moroccan international displayed a classic example of generosity, though his eagerness to celebrate Jude Bellingham's late winning goal was still evident.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo refrained from celebrating against a few of his former clubs during his time at Real Madrid.
His goal against Manchester United in 2013 proved crucial for Real Madrid in a nail-biting Champions League last-16 tie.
As he did in the first match against Sir Alex Ferguson's team, he raised his hands in a subdued celebration.
The goal-scoring machine also scored against his first professional team, Sporting Lisbon in the 2016-17 season.
When asked why he chose not to celebrate, he simply responded: "They made me who I am." Difficult to dispute that.
Frank Lampard
Lampard notoriously returned to haunt Chelsea while playing for Manchester City in September 2014.
The legendary midfielder transferred to City on loan from New York City, who he had joined after leaving Stamford Bridge.
Upon his return to the Premier League, Lampard headed home a strong equalizer against Chelsea during one game, securing a valuable point for his new team.
As anticipated, he didn’t celebrate and displayed the humility to look visibly disappointed by his actions.
Mohamed Salah
It is possible that the reason Mohamed Salah tends to show restraint in celebrating his goals against his former teams is due to the sheer number of goals he scores.
After scoring for Liverpool against Chelsea in 2017, he did not celebrate, a decision he attributed to paying respects to the victims of the Sinai mosque attack.
Salah's scoring goal against the Blues a year later prompted him to execute a calming yoga tree pose, only to be interrupted by his exuberant teammates.
The Egyptian also scored twice against Roma in the Champions League in 2018; however, he refrained from celebrating.
He had concluded the previous season as the top scorer for the Serie A team and expressed regret for his role in both of his goals in the 5-2 win.
Luis Suarez
After scoring a crucial goal against Barcelona in 2021, Suarez showed restraint out of respect for his former team, while his Atletico Madrid teammates celebrated wildly around him.
Robin van Persie
At the beginning of the 2010s, Van Persie was undoubtedly one of the most skilled finishers in the world.
His impressive performance at Arsenal led to his signing by Manchester United in 2012, a move that generated considerable discontent in the north London area.
The Dutch player kept his promise not to celebrate against his former team when he scored against them in November 2012 as agreed.
The former striker responded by raising his hands in the air, his facial expression almost completely emotionless.
Considering all the criticism he received from Arsenal fans, he must have been half-tempted to respond in a similar way to Emmanuel Adebayor, who infamously celebrated against his former team the following year.
Jesse Lingard
Lingard's goal was a study of calm after scoring Manchester United's winner in the final minutes of their Premier League match at West Ham in September 2021.
Lingard had a successful loan spell at the Hammers in the previous season, and even though he scored a goal that ultimately proved to be the game-winner, he chose not to celebrate out of respect.
West Ham supporters are notoriously unforgiving towards certain former players – just ask Paul Ince and Frank Lampard – and Lingard suffered the consequences a year later when he turned down the east London club in favor of Nottingham Forest.
Gabriel Batistuta
‘Batigol’ is Fiorentina's all-time leading goal scorer and naturally scored against his former club in his first season with Roma.
The Argentinian player became visibly upset after scoring the winning goal from 25 yards out, and was reduced to tears on the field.
Batistuta later explained that he felt the emotions of the Fiorentina fans, understanding that they would be returning home with a sense of disappointment.
After the game, he rushed over to the 3,000 spectators visiting from out of town and applauded them before departing the Olympic Stadium, overcome with emotion at the end of a very moving evening.