Who is Goncalo Ramos? Cristiano Ronaldo’s stand-in Arsenal and Chelsea should seal a transfer for
After scoring a hat trick for Portugal against Switzerland, Goncalo Ramos has made his mark on the international stage. After Fernando Santos withdrew Cristiano Ronaldo from the lineup, the Portuguese forward replaced the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Prior to his surprise inclusion against the Swiss, the forward had earned few international appearances for his country. The Portugal boss was outraged by Ronaldo’s response to being substituted against South Korea, so he decided to give the 21-year-old a rare start.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Armando Broja, and Kai Havertz struggling to score goals, Chelsea could use attacking reinforcements in the January transfer window. Gabriel Jesus, the top striker for Arsenal, could be out until February due to an injury to his medial cruciate ligament. The Brazilian has undergone successful surgery and has begun his recovery.
Following his hat-trick, the 21-year-old was replaced by Ronaldo, as Santos gave the former Manchester United star the opportunity to end his World Cup scoring drought. Ramos scored eight goals in 46 games for Benfica last season, including a Champions League goal at Anfield, and has continued to grow in the first-team picture.
Ramos made his debut with the first team in July 2020, entering in the 85th minute as a substitute and scoring twice in just eight minutes. In the same year, he excelled in the UEFA Youth League, helping Benfica reach the final, where they were defeated by Real Madrid, and tying for the tournament’s lead in goals with eight.
With Roman Yaremchuk and Darwin Nunez ahead of him in the pecking order, Ramos struggled for playing time at Benfica, but is now a regular starter for the Portuguese club. The performance of the 21-year-old forward against Switzerland in the World Cup has Chelsea and Arsenal fans salivating over the potential of signing him.
The 21-year-old’s contract is slated to expire in 2026, and Benfica has a history of demanding a premium for their gifted forwards. Joao Felix, Ramos’s compatriot, left the club for £113 million in 2019, followed by Darwin Nunez, who joined Liverpool for approximately £85 million earlier this year.
Ramos scored his first career hat-trick in a 4–1 home victory over Midtjylland in Champions League qualifying earlier this year, helping Benfica to the top of their Champions League group, which included Paris Saint-Germain. In 21 games for his side, the Portuguese star has scored 14 goals and added six assists, prompting fans to seek a January transfer to the Premier League.
Who is Goncalo Ramos? Cristiano Ronaldo’s stand-in Arsenal and Chelsea should seal a transfer for
