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A VIRAL GAELIC football moment has reached international World Cup watchers – and they’re both delighted and confused.
The clip, which has been viewed over 17 million times and has more than 100,000 reposts on X, is of Kerry full-forward David Clifford.
In last weekend’s All Ireland semi-finals, he missed a penalty but when the ball bounced back, he caught it and kicked it into the back of the net.
The video was posted with the caption “if Argentina get a penalty on Wednesday”, joking that Lionel Messi might get to pull the same trick if he misses during their match with England.
If Argentina get a penalty on Wednesdaypic.twitter.com/kn8UN4ox7P
— Oli (@olifisher) July 13, 2026
“Gaelic football looks like a sport that would be going on in my dreams or something,” one post said.
Gaelic football is the “funniest sport ever”, according to one X user, and another described it as “absurd”.
Real football going viral on the tl I feel like a proud father https://t.co/nsJ7kHIGQs
— 🛰️ (@23jxmie) July 13, 2026
Sport and culture media company COPA90 said: “Kerry’s David Clifford has clearly been watching the standard of penalties. Absolute shocker.”
Despite the mixed reviews, an Irishman said he felt like a “proud father” seeing the sport go viral.
MEP Barry Andrews even weighed in on the clips virality.
16 million views... https://t.co/jJ96JAtM61
— Barry Andrews MEP (@BarryAndrewsMEP) July 14, 2026
It’s not the first viral moment that’s taken GAA to an international audience.
When Donald Trump intervened to get the red card given to US player Folarin Balogun overturned, fans compared it to a clip of Owen Mulligan. He scored an iconic goal for Tyrone in their 2005 quarter-final against Dublin.
The video was posted on X and captioned: “The most legal goal of the United States in the next match.”
El gol más legal de Estados Unidos el próximo partido pic.twitter.com/KakC73lkCB https://t.co/dfCXBpGerZ
— Gregory (@gregnsg) July 5, 2026
People enjoyed the comparison, which made light of an otherwise serious controversy.
One said: “While the situation is not great, the memes are impeccable.”
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