“I Secured the Winning Goal for the Team of the World’s Best Player and Celebrated in His Style”
Since 2009, Hojlund has been emulating the goal celebrations of his idol CR7. Photo: REUTERS
Danish footballer Rasmus Hojlund expressed that he did not intend to mock his idol Cristiano Ronaldo after celebrating his winning goal against Portugal in a manner reminiscent of the legendary Portuguese forward.
In the quarter-finals of the Nations League held last night in Copenhagen, Denmark stunned the favorites Portugal with a 1-0 victory, thanks to Hojlund’s goal in the 78th minute. He celebrated in true Ronaldo fashion by leaping and shouting “siu”.
“I wasn’t making fun of him or anything; I’ve always stated how significant he is to me and my football journey. To play against the greatest football player in the world, my idol, and score a decisive goal is just incredible,” Hojlund said during an interview with Danish television station TV2, as reported by the BBC.
“Scoring against him and Portugal is a monumental achievement for me. I remember watching him in 2009 when he scored from a free kick, and I’ve been a fan ever since,” he continued.
The second leg is scheduled for Sunday in Lisbon.
The winner will progress to the semi-finals, while the team that loses will find themselves in a group with Scotland, Greece, and Belarus in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup set to take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
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