Danish striker Rasmus Højlund played the hero for Denmark, scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final. However, his post-goal celebration—imitating Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siu’ jump—sparked debate, prompting the young forward to clarify that it was a tribute, not a mockery, of his childhood idol.
The Manchester United forward, who came off the bench, slotted home Andreas Skov Olsen’s cross in the 78th minute, handing Denmark a crucial first-leg advantage ahead of Sunday’s return fixture in Lisbon.
But it was his goal celebration—copying Ronaldo’s famous move—that drew attention. Højlund quickly addressed any controversy, insisting it was done out of admiration rather than disrespect.
“It was not to mock him or anything,” he told Danish broadcaster TV2.
“I’ve always said he has had great importance for me and my football career. Scoring against Portugal and Ronaldo, my idol, is a dream come true.”
The 21-year-old forward revealed he first watched Ronaldo live in 2009, when the Portuguese superstar scored a stunning free-kick, cementing Højlund’s admiration.
While Denmark celebrated a deserved victory under new coach Brian Riemer, Portugal endured a frustrating night, with Cristiano Ronaldo failing to leave his mark.
Despite playing the full 90 minutes, the Al Nassr forward’s only notable effort was a header that sailed wide. Portugal’s lackluster attack was compounded by missed chances, including Christian Eriksen’s saved penalty, denied brilliantly by Diogo Costa.
With the second leg scheduled for Sunday at 19:45 GMT, Denmark will travel to Portugal full of confidence, knowing they are just one step away from the Nations League semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the loser of this tie will face another challenge—joining Scotland’s World Cup qualifying group, which also includes Greece and Belarus.
