Gonçalo Ramos, the 24-year-old striker for Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal, spoke to the Record newspaper during his national team’s training camp ahead of the 2024 World Cup. He was notably asked about his recurring role as a substitute for both PSG and the Seleção.
Ramos: “I can make a difference, be decisive, and contribute.”
“I can always contribute; that’s always been the case. Cristiano Ronaldo needs no introduction in the national team. From my first year at PSG, Mbappé was there. Now there’s Ousmane Dembélé, who also needs no introduction. Despite this level of excellence, I can make a difference, be decisive, and contribute. That’s proof of my mentality, my resilience, and my qualities.”
Of course, Ramos would prefer to be a starter on big nights. But, as he rightly points out, he has faced exceptional competition both at club and international level. He has to adapt, work tirelessly to earn playing time, and be decisive when the opportunity arises.
One can only applaud and appreciate the Portuguese striker’s mentality; he never complains and always gives his all for the team. However, like him, we would also like to see him be more impactful when he starts and plays consistently. If Dembélé has been moved to a central role, it’s partly because he hasn’t fully established himself there. He will also have to fully assume the mantle of Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal, even though it’s difficult to replace him given everything he represents.
The challenge remains to overcome that crucial hurdle, the one that was hoped for when Ramos was scoring goals regularly as a starter at Benfica. For both him and PSG, it seems a new chapter could be beginning. We still expect a little more from him; let’s hope he has that breakthrough moment. Because he certainly has talent. We’ve already seen him score some very important goals. The Portuguese player has played a significant role in PSG’s seasons, particularly as a substitute. He just needs to make a bigger impact when he starts a match.
