Rasmus Hojlund scored for Denmark. (Image: 2025 AMA Sports Photo Agency)
Rasmus Hojlund performed the 'Siuuu' celebration after scoring for Denmark on Thursday night.
Hojlund scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory against Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo watched on as the Manchester United striker copied a celebration which has been made famous by himself.
The forward came off the bench in the 78th minute to score Denmark's winning goal in the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-final, which sealed an underdog victory for his nation.
Fans tend to get excited at the smallest things during the international break and Hojlund's celebration quickly went viral on social media.
Some suggested Hojlund was mocking Ronaldo and had no right to use the celebration in front of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. He faced accusations that he'd been arrogant by performing the 'Siuuuu' and that he'd shown a lack of respect toward one of the greatest players of all time.
Such comments show why it's best to use social media in small doses. It does not reflect the real world. Who really cares deeply about a football player celebrates after scoring a goal?
"It's for my idol," Hojlund told Danish broadcaster TV2 after the game. "It wasn't to mock him or anything. He's had such a huge impact on me and my football career. Maybe it's a bit ambivalent, but to score against him and Portugal, it's huge. I remember him scoring from a free kick in 2011 when I went to watch the match, and since then I've been a huge Cristiano fan."
Having said that you can't read too much into any celebration, as they are a trivial part of the sport, it might be an encouraging sign that Hojlund looks to be growing in confidence again.
Strikers are streaky creatures and Hojlund, in particular, feels like a forward who relies on confidence, so scoring twice for club and country in the last week will give him a much-needed boost.
Hojlund used Ronaldo's celebration.
When Hojlund scored his first goal in the Premier League last season, he scored six in his next five league games against Tottenham, Wolves, West Ham, Villa again and Luton Town.
It just took a single goal for the floodgates to open for Hojlund and he should be confident of hitting the ground running when he returns to Carrington after the international break.
Hojlund took his goal brilliantly against Leicester last weekend and said: "I don't think it was like the first time when I scored against Aston Villa, but obviously I was very happy and still am. I see it as a good step on the way, but I just want to keep improving and keep being better.
"I know I'm not finished the article or what you say over here, but I just want to keep going and keep becoming even better and I'm sure I'll get even better and score even more goals if I just focus on that."
That goal ended a 21-game goal drought for Hojlund and he's got too much talent not to be scoring for that period of time. He accepted he must do better when he spoke to journalists after facing Leicester and it does truly feel like he might have turned a corner in the last seven days.
It was great to see Hojlund score the winner against Portugal and he will be hoping to start for his nation in the second leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Sunday evening.
Hojlund is suddenly in a rhythm and that bodes well for his return to Manchester next week.