Tim Howard
Fans took to social media on Tuesday to praise United States goalkeeper Tim Howard, who set a record for most saves in a World Cup match. Reuters

The United States men’s national team suffered a devastating loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 on Tuesday, but a strong performance by goalkeeper Tim Howard catapulted him into the ranks of beloved American sports heroes.

Facing a relentless onslaught by a talented Belgium squad, Howard kept the Red Devils off the scoreboard for the entirety of regulation. In all, he recorded 16 saves, the most in a World Cup game since the stat was first kept in 1966.

Ultimately, Belgium broke through with a pair of goals in extra time, fending off a late score by U.S. phenom Julian Green en route to a 2-1 victory. While the loss resulted in America’s elimination from the 2014 World Cup, fans immediately took to social media to voice their admiration for Howard’s record-setting exploits.

Aside from countless tweets praising the goalkeeper, someone altered Wikipedia’s page on the U.S. Secretary of Defense to say “Tim Howard," USA Today reports. Several memes featuring Howard’s likeness also went viral. Here’s a roundup of the best tweets, memes and other reactions to Howard’s game.

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