Christopher Nkunku Scores Against Brighton, Performs Balloon Celebration for the 1st Time at Chelsea

• Christopher Nkunku performed his iconic balloon celebration against Brighton
• It was the first time the Frenchman had celebrated with a balloon at Chelsea
• His goal helped the Blues beat the Seagulls, stretching their winning run to four

Christopher Nkunku performed his iconic balloon celebration after climbing off the bench to score for Chelsea in their penultimate Premier League game against Brighton.

The Frenchman, who had been sidelined for 12 games since February, made an immediate impact after coming off the bench.

He found the back of the net from close range, courtesy of a well-timed assist from Malo Gusto, as Chelsea continued their impressive form towards the end of the season.

Originally named as a substitute for the Brighton game, Nkunku was thrust into action just before halftime following an injury to Ukrainian forward Mykhailo Mudryk.

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Despite needing some time to find his rhythm, the former RB Leipzig forward seized his opportunity, doubling Chelsea's lead after Cole Palmer's initial header opened the scoring in the first half, The Standard reports.

Nkunku hits iconic balloon celebration

Following his goal, Nkunku delighted fans with his signature celebration.

Known for his balloon celebration, he retrieved a blue-coloured balloon from his sock and inflated it with his mouth, striking a pose with his eyes closed and arms outstretched in jubilation.

It was the first time the 26-year-old had hit his iconic celebration since joining Chelsea last summer.

He outdoored the balloon celebration during his stint with Leipzig when he scored against Shakhtar Donetsk in the 2022 Champions League.

Why does Nkunku celebrate with a balloon?

After the Shakhtar match, many spectators were puzzled by why Nkunku opted to celebrate with a balloon, red at the time. Some speculated it might be a nod to Nkunku's fondness for Stephen King's "It"!

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However, according to GOAL, the French international quickly cleared the air, explaining that the celebration was dedicated to his son, who has a particular fondness for balloons.

Pochettino commends Chelsea's fight for Europe

In a previous report by Sports Brief, Mauricio Pochettino commended Chelsea for their late surge towards European qualification, considering it a deserved result after enduring a tough season.

With a 2-1 win over Brighton on Wednesday, Pochettino's team climbed to sixth place in the Premier League standings with one game left.

The Argentine coach expressed contentment with the Blues' advancement, attributing their success to the club's resolute leadership.