Portugal faced no impediments despite the absence of their captain and talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, as they triumphed 9-0 over Luxembourg in the Euro 2024 Qualifiers on home turf.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence was a result of his suspension, incurred during the previous clash against Slovakia. In his stead, 22-year-old striker Goncalo Ramos left an indelible mark with a splendid first-half brace.
Ramos’s contribution spanned a 61-minute stint, during which he netted two goals from four shots, utilizing a mere 14 touches and experiencing a single instance of dispossession throughout his appearance.
Goncalo Ramos replaced the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal’s starting lineup and has a first-half brace against Luxembourg 😤
Following in Ronaldo’s footsteps 👏 pic.twitter.com/OD1COPcvsm
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 11, 2023
Having made waves in the Portuguese league last season with Benfica, Ramos amassed an impressive record of 27 goals and 12 assists in 47 appearances, securing a lucrative transfer to PSG during the summer transfer window. On the international stage, Ramos boasts eight appearances for Portugal, marked by six goals that underscore his burgeoning potential.
As Portugal’s revered captain Ronaldo approaches the twilight of his illustrious career, the young striker, Ramos, is ceaselessly showcasing his scoring prowess during his limited national team appearances, thereby making a compelling case for increased playing time.
Under the stewardship of head coach Roberto Martinez, who assumed the role in January, Portugal has tasted victory in all six of their Euro 2024 Group J qualifying matches.
This remarkable run of success commenced following the departure of former manager Fernando Santos, who resigned after Portugal’s quarter-final exit at the hands of Morocco during the World Cup in Qatar.
Portugal’s reign at the top of Group J is further solidified by their prolific offense, having scored 24 goals across the six matches while maintaining a spotless defensive record, thus edging them closer to securing a berth in Euro 2024, set to be hosted in Germany.
Goncalo Ramos scored a hat trick in the 2022 World Cup when he replaced Cristiano Ronaldo in the lineup
This isn’t the first time Goncalo Ramos has shined for Portugal in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. A significant instance unfolded in December during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Ramos was named in the starting lineup for Portugal in the Round of 16 clash against Switzerland, a decision that left many fans astounded.
This unexpected move by then-manager Fernando Santos marked a departure from tradition, ending Ronaldo’s streak of 31 consecutive starts for Portugal in major tournaments.
However, Ramos’s performance on the field justified Santos’s bold decision, earning him accolades as one of the standout performers of the tournament. He orchestrated a remarkable hattrick, leading Portugal to a resounding 6-1 victory and securing a quarterfinal showdown with Morocco.
Fernando Santos played 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos over Cristiano Ronaldo tonight.
Ramos had a hattrick in his first ever World Cup knock-out game 👀 pic.twitter.com/csD7Zd6vQz
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) December 6, 2022
It’s worth noting that Goncalo Ramos was a mere five years old when Ronaldo scored his first World Cup goal. In addition to his three goals, Ramos also provided an assist that led to Raphael Guerreiro’s goal, tallying his goal contributions to four in World Cup knockout matches—a significant contrast to Ronaldo, who has yet to score in the knockout stage on the grandest stage of international football.
While Ronaldo did make a cameo appearance off the bench in that match, he was unable to alter the scoreline. Subsequent to Portugal’s defeat to Morocco in the following round, discussions surrounding the need for a long-term replacement for the legendary forward began to surface.
With Ramos’s recent stellar performance against Luxembourg, he is making a compelling case for potentially assuming Ronaldo’s mantle in the years to come.