{"id":1517315,"date":"2026-11-10T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1517315"},"modified":"2026-11-10T15:05:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T15:05:27","slug":"tactical-analysis-goncalo-ramos-portugal-cristiano-ronaldo-replacement","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-goncalo-ramos-portugal-cristiano-ronaldo-replacement\/","title":{"rendered":"Goncalo Ramos: Pressure on Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘heir apparent’ ahead of new Portugal era"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The post-Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> era is about to begin for the Portuguese national team. And Goncalo Ramos is the heir apparent.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> and two Uefa Nations League titles with a nation that had never previously lifted a major trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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THE SCORESHEET<\/div>\n
Name a player from a real result: a scorer wins you three points, an appearance one. Can you win the league — or the Champions League?<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Home<\/span>\n \n 2<\/span>\n 1<\/span>\n <\/span>\n Away<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Your pick: ?<\/span>\n +3<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Play The Scoresheet →<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n

They’re the biggest of shoes to fill. And with Portugal<\/a> taking on Denmark<\/a> and Wales<\/a> in the Nations League this week, it’s Ramos who is preparing to step up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is the 25-year-old ready?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Roles reversed at AC Milan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ramos never nailed down a regular starting role during his three years at Paris Saint-Germain<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His summer move to AC Milan<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramos has managed only two goals in 11 Serie A<\/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<\/a> and Atalanta<\/a> in mid-October. But he’s failed to turn that into a run of form, going five without a goal since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, none of this is to say that Ramos has been poor for Milan. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramos has added two assists to his Serie A tally this season, most recently setting up Christian Pulisic<\/a>‘s vital strike in a 2-1 win away at Genoa<\/a> on Sunday — a result that keeps Milan within five points of the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Ramos comapres<\/h4>\n\n\n