Rasmus Hojlund has denied a viral message attributed to him after his Ronaldo-style celebration drew attention during Denmark's 4-2 defeat to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League.
Hojlund scored Denmark's second goal to make it 2-2 and marked it with Cristiano Ronaldo's famous 'Siuuu' move. The celebration quickly became one of the talking points from the match, especially with Ronaldo absent from Portugal's side after the debate around his recent international schedule.
What Hojlund said after the match
A message posted by the Globe Soccer Awards account was later attributed to Hojlund, but he denied having written it. His response was simple: "I did not say this."
The message itself was framed as a tribute to Ronaldo. It said: "I just wanted to dedicate my goal to my idol. Whatever difficulties Cristiano is going through at this stage of his career, he will never be forgotten."
That made the denial important almost immediately. The statement spread quickly after the match, but Hojlund made clear he had not posted it.
Why the moment stood out
The celebration landed in a match that already carried extra attention because of Ronaldo's situation with Portugal. Before Denmark's game, Ronaldo had started Portugal's 1-0 win over Wales, but he was also left out against Norway and spent almost half an hour warming up without being brought on.
That wider context gave Hojlund's goal and celebration even more weight. It was not just a big equalizer in a 4-2 game; it was also a public nod toward one of the most recognizable figures in the sport.
There was another flashpoint at the final whistle, when Hojlund pushed Jorge Jesus. Between the celebration, the viral message and the post-match reaction, the game produced a series of moments that kept the focus on the Denmark forward long after the result was decided.
The wider Portugal context
The Portugal side also remained a storyline because of comments from Jorge Jesus and Ronaldo himself. Jesus said that "he is the one who makes the decisions" and that "the same rules apply to all players." Ronaldo, meanwhile, said: "After the national team's press conference, and after a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I took the decision to leave the camp."
For Hojlund, though, the key point was straightforward: he denied the viral quote, and the message attributed to him should not be treated as his own words.
