Rasmus Hojlund made headlines on Thursday night as he scored the decisive goal in Denmark’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the Nations League quarter-final first leg at Parken Stadium. The Manchester United striker came off the bench to net the winner in the 78th minute, securing a crucial lead for his side.
What caught even more attention was Hojlund’s celebration — a direct imitation of Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic pose — performed right in front of the Portuguese star. The 21-year-old striker didn’t shy away from expressing what the moment meant to him.
“It was fantastic, a great day in many ways,” Hojlund said after the match. “I played against my idol, scored, and was the match-winner. It couldn’t have been written much better.”
The victory spared the blushes of Christian Eriksen, whose first-half penalty was saved. Denmark’s determined performance left Portugal frustrated, with Bruno Fernandes — Hojlund’s captain at Manchester United — admitting that his side fell short.
“We weren’t surprised,” Fernandes said. “We knew they were aggressive and would come out strong. We lacked aggression and needed to be smarter in the duels and in exploiting the space.”
Elsewhere in the Nations League, Spain played out a hard-fought draw against the Netherlands. Both teams created chances but failed to find a decisive goal, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg.
Meanwhile, Germany secured a statement win over Italy, reinforcing their status as one of the tournament favorites. The Germans dominated proceedings with a clinical display, taking a commanding advantage into the second leg.
Hojlund’s goal and celebration have already become one of the standout moments of this Nations League campaign. Scoring the winner against his idol and celebrating in front of him showed the confidence and flair that have made him a rising star in European football. With the second leg still to come, Denmark will be hopeful that Hojlund can deliver more magic on the big stage.