What are symbolic messages in soccer/football?

Symbolic messages? Sounds a little vague there lol. Ummm I guess you could say the goal celebrations are generally symbolic of stuff going on the footballers lives (Boca Junior's Maritn Palermo kisses a tatoo on his arm that bears the name of his dead child, so the goal is dedicated to the child....also Tim Cahill of Everton usually does a punching gig with the corner flag to dedicate the goal to his jailed brother)