Højlund celebrates like Ronaldo as Denmark hold Portugal to 2-2 draw

Rasmus Højlund copied Cristiano Ronaldo’s trademark celebration after scoring Denmark’s equaliser against Portugal, adding another layer of tension to an eventful 2-2 draw at Parken Stadium.

The Denmark striker ran towards the corner flag after finding the net, leapt into the air and performed Ronaldo’s famous “Siiiu” celebration.

His goal completed a dramatic comeback for Denmark in the third round of the UEFA Nations League group stage and ensured the hosts earned a point against a Portugal side playing without their long-serving captain.

Portugal had travelled to Copenhagen for the match in unusual circumstances, with Ronaldo absent from the squad after leaving camp on Wednesday and returning to Madrid.

The forward’s departure followed a serious dispute with manager Jorge Jesus. The disagreement began after Ronaldo failed to play even a minute in Portugal’s previous match against Norway, despite having been promised an appearance.

Ronaldo made his final decision to leave only hours after comments from Jesus in which the manager said he had the ultimate authority over team selection. Jesus also acknowledged that he had failed to keep his promise to involve Ronaldo against Norway.

Against that backdrop, Højlund’s celebration appeared to carry a direct message to the Portugal camp. It also turned Parken into the setting for a celebration associated throughout Ronaldo’s career with the Portuguese forward, who had left his national team only hours before the meeting with Denmark.

The match was level at 2-2 after Højlund’s finish, which was described by beIN SPORTS as a “superb finish” in a post shared on 1 October 2026.

“All level at Parken Stadium! 🔥 Rasmus Højlund with a superb finish to bring Denmark level! 🇩🇰⚽️”

Højlund’s decision to reproduce Ronaldo’s celebration was especially striking given the circumstances surrounding Portugal’s captain. The moment quickly became one of the defining images of a match in which Denmark rescued a draw on home soil.

The result gave Denmark an entertaining share of the points in a highly charged contest, while Ronaldo’s absence continued to dominate the story around Portugal.