Post-match drama! Højlund confronts Jorge Jesus after the final whistle in Copenhagen
The match in Copenhagen ended with the final whistle, but the main talking point happened right after it. Footage of Rasmus Højlund approaching Jorge Jesus and firmly patting him on the chest has gone viral within minutes.
Details: Portugal cruised to a 4:2 win over Denmark at Parken in the third round of the Nations League, with João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha and João Félix on the scoresheet. After the final whistle, Højlund walked up to the visiting coach and gave him several heavy pats on the chest. Fan accounts instantly read the gesture as a message about Cristiano Ronaldo, the Danish striker's idol, who left the Portugal camp this week after being dropped by Jesus. It should be stressed that the striker's intent remains a matter of interpretation: neither Højlund nor Jesus has commented on the moment.
The scene is made even juicier by the background. Højlund has never hidden his admiration for Ronaldo: in March 2025, he scored against Portugal in Copenhagen and celebrated with the famous Siu, later explaining it was pure admiration for his idol rather than mockery. Now the Dane found himself face to face with the man who, in the eyes of millions, pushed CR7 out of the national team. Ronaldo packed his bags on Wednesday after Jesus confirmed the 41 year old captain would not start against Denmark either, and hours before kickoff Marca revealed the star's version: he had agreed to play two of four games, but the coach's broken promise to use him in the next two fixtures became the last straw. Jesus, meanwhile, told SportTV before the match that he is “completely relaxed, completely clear in my conscience”, and his team backed him up on the pitch, dismantling Denmark with a ruthless attacking display despite the scandal raging around the camp. Portugal now have a perfect nine points from three games, while Denmark are left with bruised pride and a viral clip that will be debated for days.
It's worth noting that back in March 2025, Højlund openly called Ronaldo his childhood idol and admitted that scoring against him in Copenhagen and copying his celebration was one of the most special moments of his career. Eighteen months later, their stories crossed again in the same stadium, only this time without CR7 on the pitch.
Reminder: Portugal issues official statement over Ronaldo walkout
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
