Goncalo Ramos sparks Portugal debate with deleted ‘best player’ message

Goncalo Ramos has caused controversy within the Portugal camp after sharing a post describing him as the “best out-and-out striker” in Portuguese football, just days after Cristiano Ronaldo’s disputed departure from the national team’s training camp.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker’s post came after Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, a match in which Ramos continued an impressive run of form. He has started in place of Ronaldo in Portugal’s past three matches, scoring three goals and providing one assist during that spell.

Ramos originally posted photographs from his latest appearance for Portugal on Instagram. He also shared a message written by football commentator Luis Freitas Lobo, who described him as the “best out-and-out striker” in Portuguese football and argued that his ability extended beyond the fame associated with Ronaldo’s brand.

The 24-year-old added the words “status of the best player” when reposting the message. However, he removed the post a few hours later after receiving criticism from a number of Ronaldo supporters.

Some fans viewed the publication as an indirect message aimed at Portugal’s former captain, particularly because it followed Ronaldo’s departure from the squad and came as Ramos was being given an extended opportunity to establish himself in the attack.

Ramos was first called up by Portugal in 2022 and has since won 31 international caps, scoring 14 goals. For most of his international career, he remained behind Ronaldo in the pecking order among Portugal’s forwards.

His recent run of consecutive starts has given him the chance to demonstrate what he can offer without Ronaldo ahead of him. The attention surrounding the Instagram post has nevertheless overshadowed part of his progress on the pitch.

Jorge Jesus praises Ramos’ development

Portugal manager Jorge Jesus has praised Ramos’s improvement and said he has been aware of the forward’s qualities since the early stages of his career at Benfica.

Jesus pointed to Ramos’s recent goals and assists as evidence of the significant progress he has made. The manager said the forward “is developing quickly and will continue to improve”.

He also described Ramos’s current form as an important addition to his new club Milan, where he is managed by Ruben Amorim.

The comments underline the growing importance of Ramos for both Portugal and his club, although his decision to share the assessment of his standing among Portuguese forwards has prompted debate because of its timing and the comparison with Ronaldo.