Rasmus Hojlund forced to respond to backlash over Cristiano Ronaldo gesture during Denmark vs Portugal

Rasmus Hojlund has denied suggestions that he "disrespected" the Portugal national team by performing Cristiano Ronaldo's celebration during Denmark's 4-2 defeat to Portugal on Thursday night.

Hojlund scored in the 53rd minute of the Nations League match in Copenhagen to draw the scores level at 2-2, before performing Ronaldo's iconic 'Sui' celebration.

Ronaldo left the Portugal national team camp on Wednesday following a press conference given by head coach Jorge Jesus. He had been an unused substitute during their 2-1 victory over Norway earlier in the week.

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Rasmus Hojlund answers Cristiano Ronaldo celebration criticism

Speaking to reporters after Denmark's defeat, Hojlund said: "I did it [the celebration] as a tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo, after everything that happened to him.

"I just wanted to honour him. He's my role model. There was no disrespect to the Portugal team."

Shortly after the full-time whistle, Hojlund patted Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus on the chest, prompting Jesus to laugh - though it wasn't clear if the Denmark striker felt the same way.

Hojlund missed playing with Ronaldo at Manchester United by seven months, but said shortly after his arrival at Old Trafford in the summer of 2023 that he had idolised the 41-year-old since a young age.

"My father introduced me when I was not so young," he told Sky Sports. "He introduced me to Cristiano Ronaldo, and wanted me to idolise him because he has a good mentality ... for me [Ronaldo] is the best player ever."

READ MORE: What happened behind closed doors before 'betrayed' Cristiano Ronaldo walked out on Portugal

What has Cristiano Ronaldo said?

According to El Chiringuito's Edu Aguirre, Jesus had promised to admit his mistake in not bringing Ronaldo off the bench against Norway but did not do so in a subsequent press conference, which is said to have prompted Ronaldo's exit from the national team.

"Any player, when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don't get on, no-one is happy about that," the head coach said. "As a coach, I decided not to bring him on."

After his withdrawal from the Portugal squad, Ronaldo issued a statement on the matter via his Instagram page.

"Following the national team manager's press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to leave the national team's training camp.

"In due course, I will tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons behind my departure from the national team, to which I have always been dedicated. Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my team-mates, without exception."

Several of his Portugal team-mates have spoken out about the situation. Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes said he would 'welcome' Ronaldo, or any Portugal player, back into the international fold, while Villarreal centre-back Renato Veiga claimed he had been 'instructed' not to talk about the 41-year-old but stated he has 'a lot of respect' for him.

Speaking just before Portugal's win over Denmark, Jesus said: "I will explain everything after the last game. I know that I did nothing that should have caused things to go differently ... I will not hide or run away from it.

"Nobody can take away what Cristiano represents. He's an icon and that's not in question."

READ MORE: First Portugal players speak out on Cristiano Ronaldo saga after Denmark win