Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has insisted he was not trying to make fun of Cristiano Ronaldo after he imitated his trademark “siu” celebration on Thursday evening.
After ending a 21-game goal drought during last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Leicester City, Hojlund was unlucky to be named on the bench for Denmark’s first-leg UEFA Nations League play-off clash against Portugal.
However, with the game delicately balanced at 0-0, Hojlund was thrust into the action in the 69th minute and he slotted home the deciding goal before copying Ronaldo’s celebration.
Ronaldo could only watch as the United No. 9 replicated his world-famous celebration.
After the final whistle, Hojlund cleared the air, confirming he was not at all trying to ridicule the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Hojlund told TV2 [via Fotbollskanalen], “I’m playing against the world’s best footballer, my idol, and to score a goal and win the match… it couldn’t be better.”
“It’s for my idol. It’s not like I’m mocking him or anything. I’ve just always said that he has a lot of importance to me and my football career.”
“It’s maybe a bit ambivalent, but scoring against him and Portugal is huge.”
“I was there and saw him in 2009 when he scored from a free kick and I’ve been a fan ever since.”
Hojlund previously revealed that he “fell in love” with football and United because of Ronaldo.
✨🇩🇰 Rasmus Højlund scores and hits the Sium celebration in front of Cristiano Ronaldo… as a tribute.
He said in old interview: “Cristiano is everything to me. I fell in love with football because of Cristiano, I became a Manchester United fan because of Cristiano, I started… pic.twitter.com/7lzPaa61XZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 20, 2025
The 22-year-old also took to Instagram and wrote, “The 7-year-old fan in me might’ve gotten the overhand after I scored.”
For United fans, the major positive is that Hojlund seems to be slowly growing in confidence, which bodes well for the team as they seek to clinch Europa League glory and climb up the table.
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
