Teboho Mokoena copies Cristiano Ronaldo 'Siuuu' after penalty as South Africa rescue 1-1 draw with Czechia

Who, what, when and why it matters: On 18 June 2026 South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena converted an 83rd‑minute penalty to earn his country a 1-1 draw with Czechia at the FIFA World Cup, and celebrated by recreating Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ and a second Ronaldo‑style ‘sleep’ celebration. The goal kept Bafana Bafana alive in a tightly contested group and produced one of the most talked‑about moments of the tournament so far.

Why it matters

Mokoena’s late equaliser not only delivered a vital point but also generated global attention through its tribute to Ronaldo, underlining how Cristiano Ronaldo’s cultural influence continues regardless of his goalscoring form at this World Cup. For South Africa, the draw offers a lifeline after an opening defeat and keeps their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage intact, while Czechia dropped points in a match both sides needed to win.

Match recap: early Czech opener, late South African response

Czechia struck first when Michal Sadilek finished in the sixth minute after a move created by Alexandr Sojka, giving the visitors an early lead. South Africa were under pressure for much of the match and had previously lost their opening group game by 2-0 to Mexico, heightening the stakes in this fixture.

The decisive moment arrived late. Thapelo Maseko’s long‑range attempt struck Pavel Sulc’s hand in the penalty area and, after the referee awarded a spot‑kick, Teboho Mokoena stepped up in the 83rd minute to send a low finish past Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar. South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams had earlier been beaten by Sadilek’s early effort.

The celebrations: a double tribute to Ronaldo

After scoring, Mokoena and his teammates celebrated first by reproducing Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous ‘Siuuu’ celebration, then followed that with another Ronaldo‑style gesture often called the ‘sleep’ celebration, in which Mokoena closed his eyes and put his hands together. The tribute was widely shared on social media and drew praise for the respect shown to one of the game’s most recognisable figures.

Ronaldo’s place in the story

The timing of the tribute was notable because Cristiano Ronaldo had not found the net in Portugal’s opening World Cup match — a 1-1 draw with DR Congo — and the report highlights that the 41‑year‑old captain is enduring a rare goal drought across major international tournaments. Nonetheless, the celebration showed how Ronaldo’s signature moves have become a part of global football culture independent of current form.

The World Soccer Talk report also placed the moment in wider tournament context by referencing other standout performances in the same round — including Lionel Messi’s hat‑trick for Argentina — emphasising the contrast between goalscoring headlines and the lasting cultural footprint of Ronaldo’s celebrations.

Group implications and immediate context

The draw leaves the group tightly poised. Match_data supplied with this report lists the standings after the game as Mexico first, South Korea second, Czechia third and South Africa fourth. South Africa’s point from Czechia gives them a route to remain competitive in the group, but their earlier 2-0 defeat to Mexico makes qualification more challenging and magnifies the value of late points such as Mokoena’s.

For Czechia, dropping two points against a side fighting to avoid elimination is a setback: the result complicates their path to the knockout stage and increases the pressure on upcoming matches.

Key points

• Teboho Mokoena scored an 83rd‑minute penalty to level Czechia 1–1 South Africa (FIFA World Cup).
• Penalty awarded after Thapelo Maseko’s shot struck Pavel Sulc’s hand in the box.
• Michal Sadilek opened the scoring for Czechia in the sixth minute.
• Mokoena and South Africa recreated Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Siuuu’ celebration and a second ‘sleep’ tribute after the goal.
• Source report notes Ronaldo had not scored in Portugal’s opening 1–1 draw with DR Congo; the report describes a continuing goal drought in major tournaments for the 41‑year‑old.
• Match_data standings after the match: Mexico 1st, South Korea 2nd, Czechia 3rd, South Africa 4th.

What it means / What happens next

The result gives South Africa a crucial point and a boost in morale, but the group table shows they still face an uphill task to qualify. Czechia must regroup after dropping points in a match they would have hoped to win. For the tournament narrative, Mokoena’s celebration served as a reminder that cultural icons like Cristiano Ronaldo continue to shape football conversation even when goals and headline stats are being scored by others.