The post-Cristiano Ronaldo era is about to begin for the Portuguese national team. And Goncalo Ramos is the heir apparent.
Ronaldo finally called time on his glittering international career earlier in November. For all the criticism he’s received in his later years, he departs as international football’s most-capped player and record goalscorer. He also won a European Championship and two Uefa Nations League titles with a nation that had never previously lifted a major trophy.
They’re the biggest of shoes to fill. And with Portugal taking on Denmark and Wales in the Nations League this week, it’s Ramos who is preparing to step up.
Is the 25-year-old ready?
Roles reversed at AC Milan
Ramos never nailed down a regular starting role during his three years at Paris Saint-Germain. Over half (79/131) of his appearances for the club across all competitions came off the bench. Incredibly, he only started three of his 30 Champions League outings.
Instead, Ramos filled an impact role, changing the game from the bench or helping the Parisians see out a result as a hard-working focal point.
But despite working with limited minutes, Ramos boasted a remarkable goal return. The Portuguese striker netted 45 times in all competitions from just 5,394 minutes. That’s an average of a goal every 119.87 minutes, at a rate of 0.75 per 90 minutes.
His summer move to AC Milan was supposed to see Ramos finally emerge as a lethal goalscorer at one of Europe’s leading clubs. But, so far, it just hasn’t panned out that way.
Ramos has managed only two goals in 11 Serie A appearances and three goals in 14 matches across all competitions. Two of his three strikes for the Rossoneri came in back-to-back matches against Red Bull Salzburg and Atalanta in mid-October. But he’s failed to turn that into a run of form, going five without a goal since.
However, none of this is to say that Ramos has been poor for Milan. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Ramos has added two assists to his Serie A tally this season, most recently setting up Christian Pulisic‘s vital strike in a 2-1 win away at Genoa on Sunday — a result that keeps Milan within five points of the summit.
How Ramos comapres
Instead of grabbing the headlines, Ramos has played provider, out-ball and workhorse roles in Milan, with the ex-Benfica star in the top three among Serie A strikers for passes received, touches, passes, duels, interceptions and ball recoveries.
Ramos is bringing others into play and occupying centre-backs. Without him, Adrien Rabiot and Alphadjo Cisse wouldn’t have five Serie A goals apiece. And Pulisic and Diego Moreira wouldn’t have four each.
Goncalo Ramos’ incredible Portugal impact
Ramos’ international career has followed a similar path to his club one.
Just like at PSG, where he was an unsung hero in major title wins, Ramos has come off the bench in 22 of his 31 caps for Portugal — helping the Selecao lift the 2024/25 Uefa Nations League.
One key difference between club and international Ramos is that he’s never stopped being a clinical goalscorer.
The Olhao-born forward has netted 14 times for his country, which is already enough to land him 18th place on Portugal’s all-time list. What’s more, 12 of those strikes have been in competitive matches, including a hat-trick against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup and three goals already in the current Nations League campaign.
On top of these goals, Ramos has contributed four assists, three of which were in competitive matches.
Fans and pundits alike have often called for Portugal to start Ramos in the No.9 role in recent years as Ronaldo’s effectiveness in games waned.
Now, it looks like he will get that opportunity, and while he has been quietly effective for Milan, he will hope to grab the spotlight for Portugal.