We haven't covered Gonçalo Ramos much since the 21-year-old took Cristiano Ronaldo's spot at the World Cup and promptly fired Portugal into the quarterfinals with a hat-trick, but we've got to speak about his outrageous talents again because he's just put Benfica into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with two goals and an assist on Tuesday.
Ramos created the first by sprinting down the left wing, performing the Ronaldo chop and picking out Rafa Silva for an outside-of-the-boot finish.
Rafa Silva outside of the boot finish and Benfica have the crucial goal. pic.twitter.com/ZassaZoege
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 7, 2023
Ramos' first goal was a clear demonstration of why Manchester United, Newcastle, Chelsea and PSG have all been linked with the forward.
Gonçalo Ramos shows why so many clubs are in for him. First an assist, now a goal.
The feet. The finish. Superb from the Portuguese striker. pic.twitter.com/0lIn2CXK3P— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 7, 2023
Then he scored with his weaker left foot because that's how they're built at Benfica.
38': ️
45+2': ⚽️
57': ⚽️Ruthless efficiency from Gonçalo Ramos. pic.twitter.com/eXYu584rNO— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 7, 2023
Everyone thought the loss of Darwin Núñez to Liverpool would be tough for Benfica to overcome this season, but Ramos has now scored three and created three more in the Champions League while netting 15 league goals in 19 games.
Benfica are about to be huge underdogs in the UCL quarterfinals, but Ramos, Silva, João Mário and super sub David Neres can run with anyone up top.
Ramos' contract with the club runs through the 2025-26 season but there's a buyout clause of $127 million. That would make Ramos one of the 10 most expensive transfers in football history, coming in right behind Benfica's sales of João Félix to Atlético and Enzo Fernández to Chelsea.
Only a few clubs can realistically trigger the clause, but Ramos' play has almost guaranteed that happening this summer.
