PLZEN, CZECH REPUBLIC - AUGUST 12: Rangers' Cyriel Dessers goes down injured during a UEFA Champions League Third Round Qualifier, Second Leg, between Viktoria Plzen and Rangers at the Doosan Arena, on August 12, 2025, in Plzen, Czech Republic. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Cyriel Dessers has gone viral as fans worldwide look on in amazement at his self-imposed injury.
Most strikers will take a tumble now and then, often they get away with it with gullible match officials awarding penalties and free kicks.
It took Dessers a little time to realise just how agreeable SFA officials are to penalise opponents at Ibrox, the former Feyenoord striker has made the dramatic shouty fall his calling card.
Unfortunately away to Viktoria Plzen he took things too far, perhaps to impress a non-Scottish referee.
Imagining hand contact to his face Dessers threw himself back which forced his whole body weight onto hus right ankle. Cyriel is a hefty lad.
After four minutes of treatment he was replaced by Danilo, it looks unlikely that Dessers won’t be diving again any time soon.
Cyriel Dessers loopt zware blessure op tijdens maken van schwalbe https://t.co/N2qWLXaB9R #FCUtrecht
— UtrechtFans (@UtrechtFansNL) August 14, 2025
Utrecht fans reported:
Cyriel Dessers may have suffered a serious knee injury on Tuesday evening during the Champions League qualifying match between Viktoria Plzen and Rangers FC (2-1). The way it happened is particularly striking.
Although Plze? won the second leg, Rangers qualified for the final qualifying round thanks to their earlier 3-0 victory at Ibrox. They face Club Brugge, who visit Glasgow next Tuesday. The Scots will almost certainly have to play that match without Dessers.
The striker was injured in a duel where he faked a hit in the face. As he went to the ground, his foot caught in the grass, painfully twisting his knee.
Manager Russell Martin said after the match that things “don’t look good” for the former FC Utrecht and Feyenoord player . Dessers left the stadium with a knee brace.
??????? | Drame évitable lors du match retour entre les Rangers et le Viktoria Plzen : Cyriel Dessers s’est sûrement fait les croisés en exagérant un contact avec un adversaire. pic.twitter.com/MwR5CuT7kQ
— Feuille de Match (@fdematch) August 14, 2025
Russell Martin is expected to provide an update on the strikers injury at today’s media conference with Danilo and Hamza Igamane the only other first team strikers at the club.
Cyriel Dessers, do Rangers, foi valorizar uma mão no rosto acidental e acabou se lesionando de forma mais grave pic.twitter.com/g9CYdNehEF
— Dryzinho (@Videos_Dryzinho) August 14, 2025
Dat zou wel eens een lelijke knieblessure kunnen zijn voor Cyriel Dessers… pic.twitter.com/Mcq67b0Kqq
— Sirik Geffray (@SirikGef) August 15, 2025
? Les Glasgow Rangers craignent une rupture des ligaments croisés pour Cyriel Dessers ! ?
L’attaquant a quitté ses coéquipiers touché au genou cette semaine face au Viktoria Plzen. pic.twitter.com/ad5GcX4FBb
— Naija Football ?? (@NaijaFootball_) August 14, 2025
How do you rate Celtic's transfer business
OUTSTANDING- exactly what the team needed
ON HOLD- They'll come good by September 1
HORRENDOUS- Looking as bad as 2023
Hoist by his own petard
I’m told his nickname is…MUFF.
Stupid stupid huns.
One scene, take one, action! It resembles either a Comanche arrow attack or a saloon brawl from an old western movie. And the Academy Award goes to… Cyriel Dessers.
Keystone Cops written all over it. PMSL every time I see it.
PAAARP!
Just Desser(t)s then !