Reid’s penalty with a record-long run-up makes him a football meme

Mount Pleasant winger Reid has become a social media star after a ridiculously taken penalty in the Caribbean Cup semi-final. Video of his run-up has spread around the world, and fans are poking fun at the player.

The first semi-final was played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago. Mount Pleasant had led 1-0 against the local Club Sando since the 11th minute. In the 36th minute the referee pointed to the spot, and Reid stepped up, a player known for his unusual way of taking penalties.

Before the kick he stalls for a long time and approaches the ball in a peculiar way — he hops up to it without a run-up. It is a risky approach: with no momentum, the shot has to be aimed very precisely. Reid has converted such penalties confidently on several occasions in his career, but this time he wasted the chance: a weak, low shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Tershorn Ragoo.

The unusual style came back to haunt the team: the hosts from Trinidad equalised, and the match ended 1-1, so the second leg remains wide open.

Since the video went viral, social media users have shown Reid no mercy. One fan on X asked: “What was that?” Another suggested the player could earn a place in the Guinness World Records: “This is definitely the longest penalty in history.”

Reid is no newcomer, though: he already has one cap for the Jamaica senior national team and dreams of establishing himself in the squad. His popularity on the Caribbean island is sure to grow after such a penalty, but the question is whether this is the kind of fame he had in mind.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz