Who is Goncalo Ramos? Ronaldo's successor for Portugal and Darwin's for Benfica

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:54 CDT
• 4 min read

Goncalo Ramos was given the nod ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal's World Cup quarter-final with Switzerland, and duly scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win.

Ramos was likely expecting just be along for the ride in Qatar, with one of the game's greatest ever players in Cristiano Ronaldo normally starting in his favoured No.9 position.

But Ronaldo was benched by Fernando Santos for Portugal's meeting with the Swiss at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, and Ramos seized his chance, scoring a searing hat-trick - his first a thunderbolt of a finish beyond Yann Sommer - as well as laying on Raphael Guerreiro for the fourth of his side's six goals.

READ: Portugal fans DEMAND Ronaldo is dropped

What position does Ramos play in?

Ramos looks a bona fide No.9, with a powerful 6'1" frame which is completed by no little pace, elegance, and a willingness to shoot off either foot.

He is also happy to play deeper, however, something he did more often last season when Nunez was still on the books at Benfica.

How good is Ramos?

The Switzerland game was break-out performance for Ramos, but he has been making good on his promise for Benfica all season. Given the nod to lead the line with Darwin gone, the Eagles' decision not to spend big in attack has been repaid in spades.

Ramos has scored 14 goals and assisted six more across the Portuguese Primeira Liga and Champions League this season, his goal-involvements coming in at a rate of one every 72 minutes he has played.

READ: Man Utd target "Darwin Nunez's replacement" to improve attack

What clubs are interested in Ramos?

A cluster of Premier League clubs were linked with Ramos in the summer, from Newcastle and Leeds to Wolves and Southampton, but he should now be out of reach for all but the Magpies from that cluster.

Latterly, Man Utd have been credited with an interest in the young striker. He looks set to replace Ronaldo for Portugal. Could he now be about to do the same at Old Trafford?

When does Ramos' contract expire?

Ramos' contract at the Estadio da Luz runs until 30 June 2026, so any interested parties can forget trying to sign him on the cheap.

How old is Ramos?

Born on 20 June 2001, Ramos is 21 at the time of writing.

At 21 years, five months and 17 days of age, he became the third-youngest player in World Cup history to score a hat-trick in the knock-out stages after a certain Pele, as well as Edmund Conen.

What is Ramos' Instagram

Goncalo Ramos' Instagram can be found under the handle goncaloramos88. He has 232K followers as of December 2022.