Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has clarified the reasoning behind his decision to perform Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siu’ celebration after scoring the decisive goal in Denmark’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg on Thursday night. The 22-year-old’s tribute to his childhood idol sparked both admiration and debate, with Ronaldo himself watching from the pitch as Hojlund stole the show at Parken Stadium.
Hojlund, who came off the bench in the 69th minute, struck in the 78th minute to break the deadlock, converting a low cross from Andreas Skov Olsen with a cool finish into the bottom corner. The goal handed Denmark a slender advantage heading into Sunday’s second leg in Lisbon. But it was his celebration—mimicking Ronaldo’s signature leap, spin, and shout—that captured headlines, especially with the Portuguese legend standing just yards away, hands on hips, observing the scene.
Speaking to Danish broadcaster TV2 after the match, Hojlund was quick to dispel any notion that the gesture was meant to taunt the 40-year-old superstar. “It’s for my idol,” he said. “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.” Hojlund went on to recount a formative memory: “I remember him scoring from a free kick in 2011 when I went to watch the match, and since then I’ve been a huge Cristiano fan.”
The young Dane’s admiration for Ronaldo runs deep. In a pre-match interview with DR Sporten, Hojlund had already laid bare the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s influence on his life and career. “I’m not going to exaggerate, but Cristiano is everything to me,” he said. “I fell in love with football because of Cristiano. I became a Manchester United fan because of Cristiano. I started self-training because of Cristiano—I started doing push-ups and sit-ups every day before I went to bed because I wanted to be Cristiano.” That reverence made the moment of scoring against his hero all the more surreal.
The match itself was a tense affair. Denmark squandered earlier chances, most notably when Hojlund’s United teammate Christian Eriksen saw a first-half penalty saved by Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Eriksen also had a goal-bound shot cleared off the line by another United colleague, Diogo Dalot. Portugal, meanwhile, struggled to create clear opportunities, with Ronaldo effectively neutralized by Denmark’s resolute defense.
Hojlund’s goal—his second in four days after ending a 21-game drought for United in a 3-0 win over Leicester City last weekend—proved the difference. His celebration, however, added a layer of intrigue. While some fans on social media hailed it as a bold nod to Ronaldo’s legacy, others questioned whether it was disrespectful, given the competitive context. Ronaldo’s reaction—stoic and unmoved—only fueled the speculation.
Yet Hojlund’s post-match comments left no doubt about his intent. “It was fantastic, a great day in many ways,” he told TV2. “I played against my idol and scored and was the match-winner. It couldn’t have been written much better.” The striker, who joined United in a £72 million move from Atalanta in 2023—months after Ronaldo’s departure to Al-Nassr—has often cited the Portuguese icon’s work ethic as a blueprint for his own development.