Rasmus Hojlund aims to rediscover Denmark form against Portugal

Rasmus Hojlund will look to carry his impressive UEFA Nations League form into Denmark’s meeting with Portugal on Saturday, with the forward’s international performances contrasting sharply with his difficult season at Napoli.

The match in Braga will be Portugal’s first since Cristiano Ronaldo retired from international football, while Hojlund represents one of the possible successors to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner at Manchester United. The Danish striker joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2023, only a few months after Ronaldo’s second departure from the club, but found it difficult to make a consistent impact in the Premier League.

Hojlund is now trying to establish himself at Napoli, who completed a permanent deal for the 23-year-old after paying €44 million. So far, however, a decisive breakthrough at the highest level has remained out of reach.

The former FC Copenhagen forward also missed out on the 2026 World Cup, with teammate Scott McTominay playing a key role in Scotland’s crucial qualification victory. Hojlund is consequently entering an important stage of his career.

His record for Denmark has been considerably stronger. He started all four of the national team’s opening UEFA Nations League fixtures, accumulating 341 minutes and scoring three goals. Those performances have made him the central figure in Brian Riemer’s attack.

At club level, Hojlund has scored only three times in 10 league appearances for Napoli. His goals against Monza and Frosinone followed an important effort against Inter, although Napoli ultimately lost that game. He is still waiting for his first Champions League goal after starting four matches in the competition.

His lack of confidence in front of goal was evident in Napoli’s most recent fixture, a 1-1 home draw with Lazio. The Maradona fell silent when Hojlund failed to score from less than a metre, before the miss prompted audible frustration around the club.

Finishing has become a persistent concern, although Hojlund has not always been given many opportunities. Massimiliano Allegri’s conservative approach has limited the number of balls reaching him inside the penalty area, reducing his scoring chances. Since the start of the year, he has recorded fewer touches in the opposition box than any other striker.

That lack of service has done little to address his main weakness, but Denmark’s faster and more direct game allows him to look far more dangerous. Patrick Dorgu and Gustav Isaksen provide attacking runs from wide areas, while Mikkel Damsgaard’s forward passing creates the kind of openings Hojlund rarely receives at Napoli.

He also appears more comfortable controlling his pace when carrying the ball for Denmark. In Naples, his momentum can sometimes run ahead of the ball, exposing difficulties with timing and distance. Riemer’s approach instead highlights Hojlund’s ability to drive forward on the counter-attack.

There have been glimpses of that quality for Napoli, when he has burst past several defenders, but he must still show greater determination inside the box. Saturday’s game in Braga offers the forward and Denmark an opportunity to change the direction of their campaign as they pursue a place in the Nations League quarter-finals in March.