Rasmus Hojlund refutes claims of disrespecting Cristiano Ronaldo after mimicking the ‘siu’ celebration following Denmark’s victory, stating, ‘It’s for my idol.’

In a thrilling encounter in Copenhagen, Rasmus Hojlund emerged as the hero for Denmark, scoring the decisive goal in their 1-0 victory over Portugal in the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-final. However, it was his celebration that caught the attention of many, as he performed Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siu’ move right in front of the Portuguese superstar.

Hojlund’s goal came after a well-executed Danish attack, where he finished from close range, sending the home fans at Parken Stadium into raptures. The young forward, who plays for Manchester United, later clarified that his celebration was not intended as a mockery of Ronaldo, but rather a tribute to his idol.

Speaking to Danish broadcaster TV2 after the match, Hojlund expressed his admiration for the legendary forward. “It’s for my idol. It wasn’t to mock him or anything. He’s had such a huge impact on me and my football career. Maybe it’s a bit ambivalent, but to score against him and Portugal, it’s huge,” he said. Hojlund reminisced about watching Ronaldo score a free kick back in 2011, which solidified his admiration for the Portuguese star.

This goal marks a significant turnaround for Hojlund, as it was his second in two games, following a Premier League goal for Manchester United against Leicester City just last weekend. Prior to this scoring streak, he had gone 21 matches without finding the back of the net.

While Hojlund celebrated his personal triumph, his club captain Bruno Fernandes was left disappointed with Portugal’s performance. “We weren’t surprised, we knew they were aggressive and that they would come out strong,” he stated after the match. Fernandes acknowledged the need for improvement, saying, “We lacked aggression and we needed to be stronger in the duels, more intelligent in taking advantage of the depth.”

Looking ahead to the second leg, Fernandes remains optimistic. “We have a difficult game ahead of us, but we really want to win, and at home with our fans, we are sure that we’ll be able to turn the game around.” The stage is set for an intriguing return fixture as both teams vie for a place in the semi-finals.