Rasmus Højlund has denied a message that spread online after Denmark’s UEFA Nations League match against Portugal, insisting he did not write the post that was attributed to him.
The controversy followed a high-profile night in which Højlund scored Denmark’s second goal in a 4-2 defeat to Portugal, making it 2-2 before celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldo’s 'Siuuu' move. The moment was quickly picked up online, but the story became bigger after a message linked to Højlund was posted by the Globe Soccer Awards account and then rejected by the Denmark striker.
What Højlund said
Højlund was direct when asked about the viral post. “I did not say this,” he said, making clear that the message circulating under his name was not his.
He added that his celebration was simply a tribute to Ronaldo, saying: “I just wanted to dedicate my goal to my idol.” Højlund also addressed the wider context around the Portugal captain, noting: “Whatever difficulties Cristiano is going through at this stage of his career, he will never be forgotten.”
How the moment unfolded
The sequence came during a tense match that had its own weight before the viral post even appeared. Ronaldo had started Portugal’s 1-0 win over Wales, then was left out against Norway and spent almost half an hour warming up without being brought on. Against Denmark, the spotlight shifted again when Højlund scored, copied Ronaldo’s celebration and later pushed Jorge Jesus at the final whistle.
After the match, the message attributed to Højlund added another layer to an already charged scene. The post was tied to a Portugal crisis involving Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus, and the Globe Soccer Awards account was described as closely linked to Jorge Mendes. Ronaldo and Mendes have kept a close relationship despite their 2022 split, which only added more attention to the story as it spread.
For Højlund, though, the key point is simple: he says the message was not his. The celebration was an acknowledgment of Ronaldo, not an attempt to fuel the wider dispute that had developed around Portugal.
