Florian Wirtz and Matheus Cunha will be starring in the next James Bond movie after successfully completing the “007” test.
Now, if you have been on Football Twitter, FT as they call it these days, you might have seen those “007” tweets, some of you might have even quoted them. For those who aren’t aware, no, we’re not talking about James Bond here. In football, the “007” tag has nothing to do with spies, Aston Martins, or shaken martinis; it’s more of a roast than a compliment.
Let’s break down what it means, how it started, and why every season it becomes football’s favourite banter.
So, What Does “007” Mean in Football?
In football slang, “007” means a player has registered zero goals and zero assists in seven appearances for their new club.
It’s become a cheeky way for rival fans to troll big-money signings who haven’t hit the ground running. While James Bond’s ‘007 represents coolness and success under pressure, in football, it’s quite the opposite; it means the player’s still waiting to show up on the scoresheet after seven tries.
For example, if a star forward joins a new team and after seven games still has no goals or assists, fans will jokingly say he’s “completed his 007 arc.”
And yes, it’s brutal. But it’s also one of those memes that football social media has turned into a full-blown tradition.
How Did the 007 Meme Start?
Like most football memes, this one was born out of banter.
Back in 2021, Jadon Sancho became the first player to officially earn the “007” tag. After moving from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United for a whopping £73 million, expectations were sky-high. But Sancho took time to settle, and seven games in, he had zero goals and zero assists.
That’s when Sky Sport Germany aired a tongue-in-cheek graphic of Sancho dressed as James Bond, complete with the caption “They call me 007.”
[Sky Germany] Picture of Sky Germany on their Transfer Update Show, as they taunt Jadon Sancho, showing him in a suit as James Bond: “They call me 007: 0 goals, 0 assists, 7 games”
byu/MoneyMasonMount insoccer
Football Twitter did the rest. Within hours, the meme spread like wildfire across the football community. Sancho eventually found his form, but the “007” label had already become immortal, and every new season, fans look for the next “agent.”
How It Became a Trend
Since Sancho, the “007” meme has evolved into a ritual. Every time a big-name player joins a club and struggles to contribute early on, rival fans wait, counting every appearance, ready to post the infamous number once it hits seven.
Fast-forward to the 2025–26 season, and the tradition is alive and well.
Lil Uzi Wirtz – X007 Tour Life, Out Now. 🚨🔥 pic.twitter.com/aX9FeEYiGv
— Hater Central (@TheHateCentral) September 27, 2025
This time, all eyes were on Liverpool after they spent almost half a billion dollars in the summer, and fans were eager to find the next James Bond in Merseyside, with the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak joined on British record fees. And of course, when you are talking about banter, you cannot keep Manchester United players out of it.
And they did not disappoint us. Florian Wirtz and Matheus Cunha were officially crowned as the new James Bond by Football Twitter, while the likes of Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko narrowly survived.
Isak gets a assist pic.twitter.com/gnj0HcmltZ
— Tackle From Behind (@tacklefromb) October 4, 2025
Wirtz technically did get an assist in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, but since that competition doesn’t always “count” in fans’ eyes, he’s still under the microscope.
The countdowns, memes, and debates on who the next “Agent 007” will be have already begun. The Next in line could be another former Manchester United winger- Alejandro Garnacho
The Irony Behind the 007 Tag
Despite how viral it’s become, the truth is the 007 tag doesn’t really mean much.
Adapting to a new team, league, or even country takes time. Not every player can explode from day one. Fitness levels, tactical adjustments, and chemistry with new teammates all play a part.
Even legends have struggled initially. Thierry Henry, for example, took nine games to score his first goal for Arsenal and then went on to bag 26 in his debut season. Imagine if social media existed back then… “Agent Henry 007” might’ve been trending worldwide before he became a Premier League icon.
Why Fans Love It Anyway
It’s all part of the fun. Football fans thrive on banter, and the “007” tag is a harmless (most of the time) way to poke fun at rivals. It’s never really about the player being bad, it’s about the meme.
The moment a player breaks their “007 curse” by scoring or assisting, the jokes flip instantly. That first goal is often met with comments like “Agent 007 has been deactivated.”
In a sport that takes itself too seriously at times, the meme culture adds a layer of humour that keeps the fan experience alive and unpredictable.
“007” in football is one of those perfect crossovers between pop culture and football banter. What started as a meme about Jadon Sancho has turned into an annual event fans secretly love to track.
Sure, it might sting for the player involved, but give it a few goals, and they’ll laugh about it, too.
After all, football isn’t just about goals; it’s about the drama, the memes, and the moments that keep us scrolling long after the final whistle.
So, who do you think will be this season’s “Agent 007”?
