Even without Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal won 4–2 in Denmark. However, the Danish goalscorer Rasmus Höjlund made it clear whose side he is on in the row.
Many had been keen to see how the team would react: how would Portugal cope with the fallout surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure? Ultimately, the 2016 European champions prevailed 4–2 in the Nations League match in Denmark. “It was our best performance so far” and an “outstanding match”, said Vitinha. “There’s no denying that.”
However, it was also hard work to overcome the Danes. Shortly after half-time, Rasmus Höjlund had equalised to make it 2–2, in a sense seizing the opportunity to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back onto the pitch after all. He celebrated his goal with the well-known CR7 celebration – was the striker perhaps trying to mock the 41-year-old?
Quite the opposite was the case, as Höjlund revealed after the match. Rather, he described himself as “something of a fanboy”. The celebration had absolutely nothing to do with disrespect. “He’s my big idol.”
Ronaldo had left the match deeply offended, causing a huge stir. Manager Jorge Jesus had previously all but denied him a place in the starting line-up against Denmark: “If things go as normal, Gonçalo Ramos will be in the starting line-up,” said the manager at the press conference
Ronaldo drew his own conclusions and left the team. A thoroughly immature reaction, yet Höjlund clearly sees it quite differently. “I wanted to send a clear message to the Portuguese national team: if they don’t value Cristiano Ronaldo, there are countless people all over the world who have been inspired by him and continue to admire him,” said the 23-year-old.
He also expressed his outrage at the treatment of his idol after the match. When Portugal manager Jesus high-fived Höjlund, amongst others, the Dane gently pushed him away.