Ousmane Dembélé was one of the standout performers in the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, corresponding to the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup. The French winger scored a crucial goal and, beyond his impact on the scoreline, moved everyone with an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota, the former Portuguese player who tragically passed away alongside his brother just days ago.

Dembélé’s goal, which sealed the 2–0 final result, came in the dying moments of the second half. The forward made the most of a ball in behind to finish with class, securing the Parisian side’s place in the semifinals of the international tournament.

A celebration with deep meaning

More than the goal itself, what caught everyone’s attention was how the Frenchman chose to celebrate it. After scoring, Dembélé ran toward the corner flag, sat down cross-legged, and made a hand gesture as if holding a video game controller. This celebration wasn’t random — it was one of Diogo Jota’s signature celebrations during his time with Liverpool and the Portuguese national team.

With this gesture, the PSG forward paid heartfelt tribute to his late colleague, whose death deeply affected the football community. In the early hours of Thursday morning, Jota and his brother André lost their lives in a tragic car accident in northwestern Spain, leaving a wave of sadness among teammates, fans, and clubs alike.

The tribute extended beyond the celebration. Before kickoff, both teams observed a minute of silence in Diogo Jota’s memory, honored by the more than 66,000 fans present at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

With this win, Paris Saint-Germain advances to the final four of the tournament — but what will be remembered most by many won’t just be the result, but Dembélé’s moving tribute to a fellow professional, reminding us that football is also about humanity, respect, and remembrance.