Naruto Fans React to Bournemouth Striker Dominic Solanke’s Epic Tribute Following Impressive Goal

Despite being a sport often associated with anime fans, football still has a strong following among them. This was evident when Dominic Solanke, a player on a recent match, celebrated his goal by paying homage to a character from the popular anime series Naruto.

Dominic Solanke has a history of honoring anime characters, as he has done in the past with various characters. One example is when he scored a goal and paid tribute to Trafalgar Law from One Piece by performing his ‘Room’ technique. Additionally, he also paid homage to Luffy from One Piece by executing his ‘Gear 2’ after scoring another goal.

Despite being met with mixed reactions from fans, the football player’s love for anime was once again on display during his recent match. After scoring a header, he paid tribute to Tobi (Obito) by donning a mask, solidifying his status as a fan favorite for many. However, there were some fans who did not appreciate the tribute and voiced their disapproval.

Please note that any opinions expressed here are solely those of the author.

Fans react to Dominic Solanke paying tribute to Tobi from Naruto

Dominic Solanke, an English footballer, currently belongs to Bournemouth in the English Premier League where he plays as an attacker. In the past, he has played for renowned clubs such as Liverpool and Chelsea.

On May 11, 2024, Dominic Solanke’s team faced off against Brentford football club. The game began with Solanke scoring a goal, but it was later overturned by the VAR (virtual assistant referee). The same scenario occurred in the second half for the opposing team, and Brentford took advantage by scoring another goal.

Tobi as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Shortly after the goal, Solanke was passed a header from his teammate Marcos Senesi, resulting in a successful header. In celebration, the player swiftly sprinted towards the crowd, donning a mask and making a hand gesture in honor of Tobi, a prominent antagonist from the popular anime series Naruto.

Regrettably, Brentford defeated his team with a score of 2-1.

During the Fourth Great Ninja War, it was revealed that Tobi was actually Obito. He initiated the war due to his inability to cope with the loss of Rin, but ultimately redeemed himself by sacrificing his life for the main protagonist. This is why he remains a beloved character in the anime series.

Fan Reactions to the Premier League’s Obito Tribute

Obito as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The player received high praise from the majority of the anime fandom for paying tribute to their favorite character from Naruto. In fact, some fans went as far as declaring him their favorite player based on this action, with others even hailing him as the greatest of all time.

One individual went as far as to express that the tribute paid to Obito Uchiha in real life would have made him proud.

“Bro def my fav prem player aside from Chelsea players,”a fan said.

“My goat,”another fan wrote.

“Obito would be proud,”another one said.

Despite the use of props being uncommon in football tributes, many fans were not fond of Dominic Solanke’s tribute due to his mask. To this day, there have been few instances where players incorporate props into their tributes, as they typically rely on gestures and movements.

Therefore, while many considered the player’s act to be cringe-worthy, others intervened to prevent it from happening again. In fact, one fan went as far as to label the action as horrifying, suggesting that although this tribute was well-received by most fans, there were still some who were not fond of its execution.