Manchester United forward Rasmus Højlund has defended his goal celebration against Portugal, which mirrored Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature “Siu” jump, during Denmark’s UEFA Nations League victory on Thursday.
Højlund scored the decisive goal for Denmark and immediately sprinted before leaping with arms stretched back—resembling the iconic celebration Ronaldo made famous.
The moment took place in front of the Portuguese star, who played the full 90 minutes but struggled to make an impact.
Dismissing any suggestion that he was trying to provoke Ronaldo, Højlund emphasized that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been a major influence on his career.
He stated that he has long admired Ronaldo, recalling how he first became a fan in 2009 after witnessing one of his trademark free-kick goals.
Højlund also expressed his excitement at competing against a player he considers one of the greatest of all time.
Despite Portugal’s efforts, Ronaldo failed to register a significant goal threat, with his closest attempt—a header—missing the target.
For Højlund, the goal was a significant milestone, marking his second consecutive match finding the net after enduring a 21-game goal drought.
