Denmark star who mimicked Ronaldo's iconic 'Siuuu' celebration forced to clarify his intentions after disrespect claims News

Rasmus Højlund copied Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic "Siuuu" celebration against Portugal, then explained why the gesture was meant as a tribute. Rasmus Højlund had already put Denmark back on level terms against Portugal when he chose to celebrate his goal in a way that immediately drew attention beyond the scoreline.

With Cristiano Ronaldo having left the Portugal camp only a day earlier following his dispute with Jorge Jesus, Højlund performed the Portuguese captain's famous "Siuuu" celebration in Copenhagen, prompting criticism that quickly turned into questions about what the Danish striker was trying to say. / Højlund said the celebration was a tribute to his idol Højlund scored in the 53rd minute of Denmark's Nations League meeting with Portugal, bringing the hosts level at 2-2 before breaking into Ronaldo 's trademark celebration in front of the crowd.

The gesture came only a day after Ronaldo had left the Portugal national team camp following Jorge Jesus' press conference, making Højlund's decision to copy the celebration particularly noticeable given the circumstances surrounding the Portuguese captain's departure. The Denmark striker was subsequently forced to address suggestions that he had disrespected Portugal by using Ronaldo's celebration, insisting that his intention had been to honour a player he has regarded as a role model since childhood.

"I did it [the celebration] as a tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo, after everything that happened to him," Højlund said after Denmark's defeat. "I just wanted to honour him.

There was no disrespect to the Portugal team." Denmark's Rasmus Hoejlund celebrates scoring during the Nations League soccer match between Denmark and Portugal, in Copenhagen, Thursday, Oct. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Højlund later made the same point when explaining the gesture in greater detail, saying that he wanted to dedicate the goal to Ronaldo and make clear that his admiration for the 41-year-old had nothing to do with mocking Portugal.

"I just wanted to dedicate my goal to my idol. For everything Cristiano is going through at this point in his career, he will never be forgotten," Højlund said.

The gesture was not entirely new from the Danish forward, who had also performed Ronaldo's celebration when Denmark and Portugal met in March, although Ronaldo was on the pitch on that occasion. Højlund's admiration for Ronaldo goes back to childhood Højlund's decision to celebrate in Ronaldo's familiar style was rooted in an admiration that predates his own career at the highest level, with the striker having spoken about the Portuguese forward when he joined Manchester United in the summer of 2023.

Højlund ultimately missed the opportunity to play alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford by seven months, but he had already made clear that Ronaldo had been one of the players who shaped his own ambitions as a young footballer. "My father introduced me when I was not so young," Højlund told Sky Sports after arriving at Manchester United.

"He introduced me to Cristiano Ronaldo, and wanted me to idolise him because he has a good mentality … for me [Ronaldo] is the best player ever."