In the 2022-23 season, Gonçalo Ramos emerged as a global sensation, capturing the world’s attention with his incredible talent. Portugal’s manager, Fernando Santos, took a daring leap of faith by replacing the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading men’s international scorer, with a relatively inexperienced 21-year-old who had only played 33 minutes for the national team.
Imagine the nerves and excitement as Ramos stepped onto the World Cup knockout stage. It was a monumental decision, especially considering Ronaldo’s long-standing presence in Portugal’s starting lineup for international finals since 2008. But Santos knew what he was doing, and he believed in the young star’s abilities.
And boy, did that bravery pay off! Ramos proved his worth by delivering an awe-inspiring hat-trick against Switzerland in his very first start at the full international level. His performance was nothing short of historic, making him the first player since Miroslav Klose in 2002 to score three goals in his debut World Cup start. As if that wasn’t enough, he also secured his place in the record books as the fifth-youngest player to achieve a treble on the grandest stage in football, at just 21 years and 169 days old.
Santos had found a gem in Ramos, a natural-born goal scorer. Even before the World Cup in November, the young striker had already bagged an impressive 14 goals for Benfica at the club level. He also wasted no time announcing his arrival on the international stage, netting a goal against Nigeria just a month before the Switzerland game.
It’s no surprise that Gonçalo Ramos caught the attention of football giants like Manchester United and PSG. The excitement around him may have died down after the World Cup, but it seems like the rumors are resurfacing this summer, and this time, PSG is the one eyeing the young striker.
Ramos has been on fire since the World Cup, impressively carrying on his stellar form throughout the season. And as if that wasn’t enough to fuel the transfer speculation, Benfica’s president, Rui Costa, recently added more fuel to the fire. He hinted that PSG would be willing to meet the striker’s hefty price tag, which has been rumored to be around £80 million.
Benfica has experienced this situation before when they lost their star striker, Darwin Núñez, to Liverpool in a massive £64 million transfer last summer. Now, history seems to be repeating itself, with the possibility of their top forward making a move to a French club, just a year later.
Read More: Goncalo Ramos joins PSG for €80 million fee with contract until 2028
Goncalo Ramos – A Goal-Scoring Prodigy
Gonçalo Ramos is undoubtedly a rare gem in today’s football landscape – a true goalscorer, the kind that’s becoming increasingly hard to find at the top level. When such talents emerge, they naturally attract a lot of attention and interest.
Last season, Ramos’s goal-scoring prowess was nothing short of remarkable. In league action, an astounding 89% of his shots (87 out of 98) were taken from inside the box, and what’s even more impressive is that none of these shots were penalties. This statistic sets him apart from the crowd, highlighting his ability to position himself perfectly in the box to create dangerous scoring opportunities.
When comparing Ramos to other prolific shooters across the top five European leagues in the 2022-23 season, only two players attempted a higher proportion of shots from inside the box – Erling Haaland with 93% and Marcus Thuram with 92%. This places Ramos in an elite group of forwards who truly understand the art of being in the right place at the right time.
Gonçalo Ramos’s prowess inside the six-yard box is nothing short of lethal. His ability to deceive defenders with clever movement and perfectly timed runs sets him apart as a true goal-scoring maestro. A shining example of this can be witnessed in the crucial 2-2 Derby de Lisboa draw against Sporting CP in January.
⚽ GOLO
— VSPORTS (@vsports_pt) January 15, 2023
Gonçalo Ramos 37'
Liga Portugal bwin (#16) | Benfica 1-1 Sporting#LigaPortugalbwin #SLBSCP https://t.co/zh7BKsPkQS pic.twitter.com/vTveK1pb1H
In the highly competitive landscape of the top seven ranked European leagues in the 2022-23 season (including Portugal and the Netherlands alongside the traditional top five leagues), Gonçalo Ramos stood out as a prolific scorer from inside the six-yard box. With an impressive tally of 10 league goals from that close range, he was second only to the extraordinary Erling Haaland, who scored 12 goals from inside the six-yard box.
Out of the group of ten players who scored seven or more goals from inside the six-yard box, Gonçalo Ramos had an impressive proportion of goals from that range. Only two players, namely Ivan Toney from Brentford and Luuk de Jong from PSV, managed to outperform him in terms of goals from that close distance.
Shots on Target: Gonçalo Ramos and the Art of Prolific Goal-Scoring
Playing for one of the ‘big three’ in Portugal has certainly played a crucial role in Gonçalo Ramos’s remarkable goal-scoring success. At Benfica, he benefits from their dominant performances, especially during their highly successful 2022-23 campaign under the guidance of Roger Schmidt. The team’s impressive statistics reflect their attacking prowess and their ability to control matches.
Among the top 10 ranked European leagues last season, Benfica stood out with the highest non-penalty xG (expected goals) per game rate of 2.32. They were also in the top 10 among 176 clubs for shots per game (16.7), touches in the opposition box per game (32.7), and average possession (63.6%). This kind of dominance on the field creates numerous scoring opportunities, providing a fertile ground for goal scorers like Ramos to shine.
However, it would be a mistake to attribute all of Ramos’s success to his team’s dominance alone. His ability to position himself in excellent scoring positions and his impressive non-penalty xG per 90 of 0.80 were unmatched by any other player across the top seven European leagues in the 2022-23 season, who played a minimum of 1,500 minutes. Moreover, his incredible 0.21 xG per non-penalty shot throughout the season was unparalleled among the 109 players who attempted 70 or more shots. Ramos even edged out the prolific Erling Haaland’s record-breaking 0.20 xG per non-penalty shot during his time at Man City.
Gonçalo Ramos not only excels in the quality of his shots but also in their quantity. Out of all the players who played at least 1,500 minutes across the top seven European leagues last season, only 11 of them had a higher average of non-penalty shots per 90 minutes than Ramos’ impressive 3.8. Remarkably, this puts him on par with the prolific Erling Haaland, who also averaged 3.8 non-penalty shots per 90 minutes during the same period.
| PLAYER | NON-PEN GOALS | MINS NON-NON PEN GOALS | MINS NON-PEN XG/90 | NON-PEN XG PER SHOT | NON-PEN SHOTS/90 | NON-PEN SHOT CONVERSION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gonçalo Ramos | 19 | 121.20 | 0.80 | 0.21 | 3.80 | 19.4% |
| Erling Haaland | 29 | 95.70 | 0.75 | 0.20 | 3.80 | 25.8% |
| Robert Lewandowski | 23 | 124.00 | 0.74 | 0.17 | 4.20 | 17.2% |
| Callum Wilson | 15 | 125.70 | 0.72 | 0.22 | 3.30 | 21.4% |
| Kylian Mbappe | 26 | 108.50 | 0.71 | 0.15 | 4.60 | 18.1% |
| Santiago Gimenez | 15 | 128.20 | 0.69 | 0.17 | 4.00 | 17.4% |
| Victor Osimhen | 24 | 107.60 | 0.66 | 0.14 | 4.60 | 18.2% |
| Lois Openda | 20 | 126.40 | 0.63 | 0.17 | 3.70 | 19.4% |
| Folarin Balogun | 15 | 200.70 | 0.62 | 0.17 | 3.60 | 12.4% |
| Lautard Martínez | 20 | 128.80 | 0.58 | 0.13 | 4.40 | 16.0% |
| Alexandre Lacazette | 21 | 139.90 | 0.55 | 0.17 | 3.30 | 19.6% |
| Anastasios Douvikas | 17 | 137.80 | 0.52 | 0.17 | 3.10 | 21.0% |
| Mohamed Salah | 17 | 193.80 | 0.52 | 0.15 | 3.30 | 14.0% |
| Lionel Messi | 16 | 177.60 | 0.49 | 0.12 | 4.10 | 12.4% |
| Marcus Rashford | 17 | 169.90 | 0.48 | 0.14 | 3.40 | 15.7% |
| PLAYER | NON-PEN GOAL | MINS NON-PEN GOALS | NON-PEN XG/90 | NON-PEN XG PER SHOT | NON-PEN SHOTS/90 | NON-PEN SHOT CONVERSION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Salah | 17 | 193.80 | 0.51 | 0.15 | 3.30 | 14.0% |
| Sydney van Hooijdonk | 15 | 184.70 | 0.44 | 0.15 | 3.00 | 16.3% |
| Xavi Simons | 17 | 165.80 | 0.43 | 0.15 | 2.90 | 18.7% |
| Gaetan Laborde | 15 | 184.10 | 0.42 | 0.15 | 2.80 | 17.6% |
| Amine Gouiri | 15 | 183.90 | 0.39 | 0.15 | 2.60 | 19.0% |
| Victor Osimhen | 24 | 107.60 | 0.66 | 0.14 | 4.60 | 18.2% |
| Marcus Rashford | 17 | 169.90 | 0.48 | 0.14 | 3.40 | 15.7% |
| Harry Kane | 25 | 136.20 | 0.44 | 0.14 | 3.30 | 20.2% |
| Lautaro Martínez | 20 | 128.80 | 0.58 | 0.13 | 4.40 | 16.0% |
| Lionel Messi | 16 | 177.60 | 0.49 | 0.12 | 4.10 | 12.4% |
| Rafael Leão | 15 | 162.10 | 0.40 | 0.12 | 3.40 | 16.3% |
| Gabriel Martinelli | 15 | 187.00 | 0.29 | 0.12 | 2.50 | 19.0% |
| Antoine Griezmann | 15 | 190.60 | 0.39 | 0.11 | 3.50 | 13.5% |
| Martin Ødegaard | 15 | 209.50 | 0.29 | 0.11 | 2.70 | 16.18% |
Indeed, the shot average of Gonçalo Ramos in his final season at Benfica is strikingly similar to that of Darwin Núñez before his move to Liverpool (3.7 shots per 90). However, what sets Ramos apart is his exceptional non-penalty xG per 90 of 0.80, which surpasses Núñez’s xG per 90 of 0.67 in the 2021-22 season.
Interestingly, since Núñez’s move to Liverpool, he has almost sustained his xG per 90 average in the Premier League across the 2022-23 season (0.64), showcasing his goal-scoring abilities at a higher level of competition. Furthermore, Núñez’s shot tally has even increased to 4.4 per 90 in the Premier League.
These comparisons offer an exciting insight into the potential of Gonçalo Ramos to transfer his goal-scoring prowess from the Primeira Liga to the French League, should he move to a big club like PSG. With his impressive xG per 90 and an average shot tally comparable to Núñez’s performance in the Premier League, there are promising indications that Ramos could maintain his goal-scoring efficiency and become a significant asset in one of the top leagues in Europe.
Absolutely, the success of Gonçalo Ramos in a new league, like the Premier League, would greatly depend on the service he receives and whether it aligns with his playing style, which has already proven to be highly effective. In the 2022-23 season, Ramos demonstrated his ability to capitalize on crosses from his teammates in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, making him a potent threat in the box.
In fact, no other player in the Primeira Liga received crosses from open play as successfully as Ramos, with a staggering total of 43 crosses finding their target for him. Remarkably, six of those crosses directly resulted in goals, showcasing his clinical finishing ability when provided with accurate service.
It’s essential to note that these statistics don’t even include the crosses that indirectly contributed to his goals, such as those leading to deflections or flick-ons that eventually found the back of the net. The focus is solely on the crosses that were directly assisted, emphasizing his capacity to make the most of precise deliveries.
Goncalo Ramos at Parc des Princes: Adapting the Style for a Prolific Partnership with Dembele
To make the most of Ramos’s potential at PSG, the team may need to adjust their attacking style to focus more on attacking the box from wide areas. Alternatively, Ramos would have to quickly adapt to a style that he hasn’t been accustomed to or successful under at Benfica under Schmidt. While the latter option seems more likely, there is evidence to suggest that Ramos, with his exceptional skills as a box striker, can adapt effectively to different service from his teammates.
Luis Enrique has expressed his belief in Dembele’s ability to be a 40-goal a season striker at PSG. However, there’s a general sentiment that a central striking position may not suit Dembele, who seems to perform at his best when drifting in from the left side of the pitch.
Ramos, on the other hand, could be the ideal central figure, with Dembele providing support from wide areas. Dembele’s explosive pace and trickery out wide could add a creative dimension to serve the 22-year-old striker effectively. Nevertheless, for this partnership to flourish, PSG would need to enhance their creative play and crossing outputs from their full-back positions. This adjustment could potentially unlock the full potential of Ramos and Dembele’s lethal combination in the attacking lineup.
Goncalo Ramos: Portugal’s Next Goal-Scoring Sensation Ready for a PSG Move
While Gonçalo Ramos proved to be a prolific goal scorer for Benfica in the 2022-23 season, he was not primarily known for his link-up play. Often positioned as the central attacking figure in a 4-2-3-1 formation, his main responsibility was to be the finisher of moves rather than heavily involved in the build-up.
Out of his open-play shots in the same season, only 9% saw him actively contributing to the build-up of the play, and he was involved in the creation of chances for teammates in just 32% of his open-play shot sequences for Benfica.
Despite this, his goal-scoring prowess was remarkable, as he scored 27 times across all competitions for the club in 2022-23. This outstanding achievement made him the youngest Benfica player (21 years, 286 days) since the legendary Eusébio in the 1962-63 season to reach 25 goals in a single season. With such an impressive track record, Ramos is seen as the next in line to succeed Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal’s lead goal threat.
If Ramos makes the right move at the right time, there’s a high chance he could be considered among the pantheon of great Portuguese footballers. Ronaldo’s jump from Portuguese football to the English Premier League at the age of 18 proved to be the perfect timing for his career to flourish. Likewise, for Ramos, the time for a move to Ligue 1 with PSG could be opportune and potentially transformative for his future.
Also Read: Legendary Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth in Rupees, Height, Age, Bio, Income, and Family in 2023
