The mercurial Ethiopian was one of the standout strikers in the inaugural season of the Hero Indian Super League this year. He showed he meant business from the first game, showing strength, good movement and a certain panache in finishing, latching onto a wonderfully lobbed ball from midfield and chipping the ball over goalkeeper Subrata Paul of Mumbai City FC. What happened next was something that left the fans with their jaws wide open: the outrageous celebration! Fikru performed a well-executed backflip in front of thousands of home fans to send the crowd into a frenzy, a show of his athleticism and passion for scoring goals for the team.

It was a glimpse of things to come, as Fikru put in similar performances in the games that followed. But nothing will eclipse this moment in the history of the league. With the ISL’s first-ever goal, Fikru forged a place in history and in the memory of Atlético de Kolkata fans all over the world.