How a substitute striker became a global meme during the World Cup
In short: Wout Weghorst is a journeyman striker whose career spans the Eredivisie, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League. While his goal-scoring record is impressive, he gained unexpected worldwide fame during the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a tense confrontation with Lionel Messi.
Born in Borne on 7 August 1992, Weghorst's professional journey began in the Dutch second tier with Emmen. After finding success at Heracles and AZ, he moved to Germany's VfL Wolfsburg in 2018, where he scored 70 goals in 144 games. His prolific form in the Bundesliga, including a 20-goal season in 2020–21, eventually earned him a £12 million move to Burnley in January 2022. He initially developed his skills at local clubs RKSV NEO and DETO Twenterand before moving to Willem II. His early professional years saw him establish himself as a consistent goalscorer in the Eerste Divisie.
His career is defined by high-stakes moments and frequent movement. After Burnley's relegation, he embarked on several loan spells, including stints at Beşiktaş, Manchester United, and TSG Hoffenheim. During his time at Manchester United, he secured his first career trophy by winning the EFL Cup in 2023. He has since played for Ajax and Twente, reuniting with former coach Erik ten Hag at the latter. Following his time in England, he joined Ajax in mid-2024. He later signed with Twente in 2026, where he once again worked alongside technical director Erik ten Hag.
However, his most enduring legacy may be the 'Battle of Lusail' during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Coming on as a substitute in the quarter-final against Argentina, Weghorst scored two goals to force extra time. The match was marked by 18 yellow cards and a post-match confrontation where Weghorst approached Lionel Messi. Messi's dismissive response to Weghorst—calling him 'bobo' (idiot)—became a massive social media meme, leading to Weghorst being nicknamed 'Bobo' by teammate Lisandro Martínez. During that intense quarter-final, he equalised with a left-footed finish following a disguised free-kick. This performance helped ensure the match proceeded to a penalty shootout.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Wout Weghorst
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-wout-weghorst.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
