Tim Howard wins big on social media after setting World Cup record

Team USA may not be advancing in the World Cup, but goalkeeper Tim Howard is winning big on social media.

Howard set a World Cup record with 16 saves in Tuesday’s match against Belgium -- the most since 1966, when the tournament began keeping records. That performance inspired someone to edit Wikipedia so that Howard was listed briefly as the U.S. Secretary of Defense.

Best wiki update of the Cup so far, or ever: pic.twitter.com/GehIqfFtc1

— Danielle Elliot (@daniellelliot) July 2, 2014

The edit was discovered and changed back, but not before Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales tweeted that while he did not approve of “vandalizing Wikipedia for comedic effect,” he found the joke “exquisite.”

I do NOT APPROVE of vandalizing wikipedia for comedic effect. But this is exquisite: http://t.co/ReAWTYyppQ

— Jimmy Wales (@jimmy_wales) July 2, 2014

Meanwhile, a White House petition asking the government to name Howard as the Secretary of Defense has garnered more than 200 signatures so far.

Yet another petition asks that Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport be renamed “Tim Howard National Airport.”

Howard was the top trending player for the U.S. team on Twitter. He netted 1.8 million tweets during the match with spikes happening during his big saves.

The hashtag #ThingsTimHowardCouldSave is also trending on Twitter, with fans tweeting out memes depicting the goalkeeper in situations requiring a save.

Check out some of our favorites below:

#ThingsTimHowardCouldSave Mufasa pic.twitter.com/zwXYbfqb5j

— Six Pack Sports (@sixpacksportz) July 2, 2014

Charlie's brother's finger: #ThingsTimHowardCouldSave pic.twitter.com/eMDumyoCKo

— Josh Stumpenhorst (@stumpteacher) July 2, 2014

#ThingsTimHowardCouldSave Titanic pic.twitter.com/g25gt5oVyV

— Mark Munzo (@mark_munzo) July 2, 2014

#ThingsTimHowardCouldSave The Dinosaurs pic.twitter.com/mbFXRclomR

— Melinda (@MuhlinduhhMarie) July 2, 2014