The Brazilian striker fired home in the final minutes of the 6-0 win over Ross County after doubles from Cyriel Dessers and Rabbi Matondo, as well as a first of the season for Tom Lawrence.
Danilo praised his team-mates and the staff for helping him through his injury hell and says it was the perfect way to round off the day at Hampden.
Speaking to RangersTV, he said: “I am grateful, I have been working so hard for a while.
“I have to thank my team-mates and the coach for giving me confidence to play my first league game of the season and to score my first goal.
“How did the first goal feel? So many things came to mind and I got emotional.
“You have to be ready when that moment comes. In training I had scored some goals, so I was ready for that moment.
“It was a great day, the boys did a great job before I came in so it made it easier.
“It gives you confidence and hopefully it is the first of many.
“I feel great right now and it was time for me to get an opportunity after working so hard. The gaffer always wants to give me minutes at the right time.
“It was hard for me to be watching from the sidelines waiting for my chance. I will be doing all I can to get more minutes now.
“I need to keep working hard and get more minutes. I have to show up well at training and in games.”
The victory kept up the unbeaten start to the domestic campaign for gaffer Philippe Clement and his squad.
Next Sunday brings the first Old Firm clash of the season at Parkhead and Danilo believes the result was the perfect warm-up ahead of the derby.
He added: “It was a good performance against Ross County and we kept a clean sheet which is what the manager wanted.
“We could have had even more, but we showed our quality.
“It gives us momentum for next week and that is a big game.
“We have to train hard to be ready, we can enjoy today, but we are already looking ahead to next week now.”