Sunday's FIFA World Cup final had gazillions of people all over the world feeling the excitement of soccer's most important tournament, including the legendary internet chef known as Salt Bae.
Salt Bae, whose real name is Nusret Gokce, quickly joined celebrations at the end of Sunday's game, and a lot of people are not happy about it.
In the moments after Argentina won the tie-breaking penalty kick shootout to take the World Cup title, Salt Bae for some reason was on the soccer pitch determined to share in legendary player Lionel Messi's big moment.
And nobody seemed less interested than Messi himself—so much so that Salt Bae was seen manhandling Messi to get a photo with him, as seen below.
\u201cEven Messi knows salt bae is a hack\u201d— Z Bo (@Z Bo) 1671390877
The moment hasn't sat well with fans, especially given how momentous the occasion was.
Argentina's big win on Sunday, the country's first since 1986, was also Messi's first World Cup win--and at 35 years old with his days as a professional soccer player numbered, it may well be his only World Cup victory.
If the words, "this isn't about you, Salt Bae," are running through your head--well, you're not alone. His boorish attempt at a photo with Messi won him few fans on social media.
But in the end he did get that photo--and Messi seemed irritated at best.
\u201cSalt Bae harassing the GOAT for clout at the most important moment in his life. Look at Messi\u2019a face \ud83e\udd74\u201d— Heydon Prowse (@Heydon Prowse) 1671455285
Salt Bae also proudly posted a photo of him holding the World Cup itself to his Instagram feed--despite the fact it is fully against FIFA rules.
FIFA is explicit about who is allowed to handle the sacred World Cup itself, and it comprises two very elite groups of people:
"The original FIFA World Cup Trophy can only be touched and held by a very select group of people, which includes former winners of the FIFA World Cup and heads of state."
Salt Bae does not hold any World Cup titles, and "viral internet chef" doesn't exactly qualify as a head of state, does it?
Gokce was also seen biting into one of Argentina's medals to prove it was real gold.
All this spotlight hogging has definitely not endeared Salt Bae to people on the internet, while Messi's lack of interest in the chef has made him even more of a hero.
\u201cMessi ignoring Salt Bae is golden \ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\u201d— Omar Al Raisi (@Omar Al Raisi) 1671454736
\u201cMessi when he spots salt bae on the pitch\u201d— Burnett (@Burnett) 1671458924
\u201cMessi told Salt Bae no twice while he's trying to hug his family, guy chased and grabbed him again. What a prick. Only time I saw Messi angry in the last hour.\u201d— billary (@billary) 1671390794
\u201cFcking absurd. Who let Saltbae out on the pitch? Saw a bunch of photos of him HOLDING the World Cup trophy, and even a picture of him biting on a medal. Atleast Messi knew not to give that guy trying to make THEIR moment about HIM any attention. Desperately grabbing Messi\u201d— Andr\u00e9 Noruega (@Andr\u00e9 Noruega) 1671407923
\u201cThe look Messi gives Salt Bae \ud83e\udd23 like who the hell are touching me \u201d— Wu-Tang is for the Children (@Wu-Tang is for the Children) 1671499058
\u201cMessi has 0 time for Salt Bae \n\n\u201d— Barstool Sportsbook (@Barstool Sportsbook) 1671471646
\u201cMessi not having any of \u2018Salt Bae\u201d makes me love him even more. \u201d— adi_dasslerWSAG (@adi_dasslerWSAG) 1671443532
\u201cSalt Bae is all about ostentatious displays of wealth and excess, and that\u2019s just not Messi\u2019s style.\u201d— Muhammad Butt (@Muhammad Butt) 1671446390
\u201cEmbarrassing for FIFA as Salt Bae, best known for, uh, putting salt on steak and overcharging people, harasses Messi at the World Cup conclusion \nhttps://t.co/XJ97le8b75\u201d— Don Moynihan (@Don Moynihan) 1671488981
Salt Bae rose to prominence in 2017 with a string of viral videos in which he applied salt to meat with a flamboyant panache.
He has since ridden that viral fame to become the owner of a series of extremely poorly reviewed restaurants all of the world, the London location of which has been ranked one of the worst places to eat in the entire city.
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