If you’ve been too busy standing in queues at banks and ATMs or dreading a future world where Donald Trump is the president of a country, you may have missed out on the latest internet craze, the mannequin challenge. Kids in Jacksonville, Florida though it was a good idea to post a video of themselves posing as mannequins with Rae Sremmurd’s ‘Black Beatles’ playing in the background and for some crazy reason, it really caught on!
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The challenge picked up speed very quickly and pretty soon everyone was posting videos of themselves on social media with the hashtag #MannequinChallenge. It went from American high schools to colleges and pretty soon, sports teams on the far side of the Atlantic were doing some pretty elaborate stuff. Even Hillary Clinton caved in and posed for the challenge with Jon Bon Jovi. The phenomenon truly went viral when it crossed the pond and into European football.
Now, if you’re thinking the challenge seems frivolous and juvenile, you have to check out these 10 best videos to realise it actually takes quite a bit of skill:
#10 Sunderland
Video Courtesy – YouTube/Sunderland AFC
If Sunderland’s inability to move out of the bottom in the Premier League is good for anything, then it’s definitely the mannequin challenge. While producing an effort filmed in the gym has already been done to death, the Black Cats put their best foot forward in an elaborate tableau that shows them in the midst of performing various exercises. They were also the first Premier League team to take it up after the phenomenon invaded Europe.
Check out Patrick van Aanholt, Steven Pienaar and others as they stay frozen perfectly.
#9 Germany
Not one to back down from a challenge, the German national team had their own take on the mannequin madness. After they wrapped up their international break with two victories, the team were unwinding at dinner when they decided they too had to be a part of the latest internet craze. As the camera pans in the video, you can see different members of the German squad drinking wine and eating, all frozen in time of course.
They got Joachim Loew involved and Shkodran Mustafi and Mats Hummels actually have each other by the collar!
#8 Paris Saint-Germain
Video Courtesy – YouTube/PSG – Paris Saint-Germain
The French champions went their own way with the challenge. Instead of just restricting their video to players and staff, they shot their challenge in the club store where they got fans involved too. Their video clip looks like a frozen snippet of time in the store where the players are interacting with fans and giving out autographs and taking selfies – pretty generic stuff but making their fans pose with the players was a really nice touch. A real people-pleaser.
#7 Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford
Now, the mood at Manchester United may not be conducive to undertake a mannequin challenge but Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard weren’t about to lose their chance to upload a video. The two United youngsters are in a room with their friends who are frozen in casual positions. However, as the camera pans, you can see Rashford frozen in the midst of a hair cut.
As you watching till the end of the clip, you get the inkling the whole point of the challenge was lost on these young men as they all start dancing in unison. While they break into some smooth moves, maybe don’t do that when you’re pretending to be a mannequin.
#6 Martin Keown
Video Courtesy – YouTube/BBC Sport
With Manchester United going up against Arsenal this weekend, it’s fitting that Martin Keown finds himself on this list. The BBC pundit took part in Football Focus’s mannequin challenge and it sure is a funny take on old history. In a rare moment of madness, Keown famously jeered at Ruud van Nistelrooy back in 2003 when the Dutch striker missed a penalty in injury time.
The English defender or whoever came up with the idea decided to recreate that memorable moment in their studio as Keown can be seen standing over a colleague in a very similar manner from 13 years ago. Check out all the crew being sporting participants in the challenge too.
#5 Spain
The Spanish national team tried to be super cool by undertaking their mannequin challenge in the changing rooms at Wembley and their effort earns them fifth place on our list. The Spanish contingency wrapped up their international break with a friendly against England and in an effort to not be outdone by their opponents who had their own take on the challenge, the La Rojas recorded and uploaded their very own video.
Pepe Reina can be seen jumping out of a towel bin and what are Thiago and company even doing with all those fruits on a teammate's crotch!
#4 England
The English national team performed, by far, the most interesting version of the mannequin challenge and it’s al thanks to their latest star Jamie Vardy. England hosted Spain for a friendly at Wembley and after the Leicester forward scored his team’s second goal of the night his celebration was the challenge itself. He froze after his goal, as did players like Raheem Sterling and others as it became apparent the whole thing had been planned.
Even though their challenge lasted only a few seconds, it sure had viewers at home convinced there was some technical failure with the broadcast.
#3 Borussia Dortmund
All credit is due to Dortmund for being the first football team in Europe to take up the challenge. They were the first to post their video from the gym and the players can be seen frozen in the midst of working out. Watch out for Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa and Mario Gotze as they replicated mannequins with weights and definitely don’t miss out Andre Shurrle as he struck the best pose by far.
#2 Portugal
As the mannequin challenge picked up steam during the international break, this year’s Euro winners got in on the action too as they posted a video of them undertaking the challenge in their changing room. Their clip was fun to watch with the likes of William Carvalho and Renato Sanches striking some interesting poses. But the spotlight was obviously stolen by captain Cristiano Ronaldo himself who stood in the middle of the room in just his tighty-whiteys standing in what has become his famous ‘free kick’ pose.
I’m sure many girls, and even some guys, are going to have a tough time tearing their eyes away from this one.
#1 Belgium
In an extensive attempt to pull off the most elaborate mannequin challenge in the world of football, Michy Batshauyi uploaded a video of his teammates striking various poses in the gym. Though their choice of location is pretty unimaginative, some of the fancy things the players do are worth swooning over. Check out Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard and others as they show off their one-handed planks and weight lifting in the video. It is by far the best of the lot.
And as if one attempt wasn't enough, the Belgian Red Devils went and did a second video filmed in their hotel where most of them are either eating or playing games. Don’t miss the ice cream dripping from Vertonghen’s chin!
Also, as an added bonus, check out Mexico’s mid-celebration mannequin challenge as they beat U.S.A. 4-0 during a World Cup qualifying match:
