Portugal forward, Goncalo Ramos, who is expected to serve as the backup to captain Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has candidly reflected on his position in the team.
During the 2025-26 season at Paris Saint-Germain, he made 45 appearances, with only 15 of those being in the starting lineup. He scored 12 goals and provided two assists, averaging a goal contribution every 142 minutes, which is approximately one and a half matches.
At the international level, Ramos has primarily come off the bench, as the centre-forward role is held by Ronaldo. He has accumulated 10 goals and three assists in 25 appearances for Portugal, with only 10 of those being starts.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo netted just one goal during the group stage, converting a penalty in a 3-2 victory over Ghana. In the Round of 16 match against Switzerland, Ramos, who had played only ten minutes in the group stage, took the place of the 41-year-old in the starting line-up and made history.
He scored a hat-trick and provided an assist in a dominant 6-1 win, marking his emergence on the international scene. However, in recent times, he has returned to being a secondary option under coach Roberto Martinez.
Ramos discussed his role with the national team during an appearance on the watch.tm podcast alongside his PSG and Portugal teammate Nuno Mendes. He emphasized the importance of patience and waiting for his chance.
The 24-year-old remarked (via @TheNassrZone on X), “Naturally, I would prefer to be a starter. However, when you observe the players performing well, you must consider: ‘Alright, they’re excelling… just wait for your opportunity.’”
As the player with the most international appearances (228) and goals (143) in history, all attention will be focused on Ronaldo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.