Gonçalo Ramos

Portuguese footballer (born 2001) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gonçalo Matias Ramos (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡõˈsalu ˈʁɐmuʃ]; born 20 June 2001) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Portugal national team.

Full name Gonçalo Matias Ramos[1]
Date of birth (2001-06-20) 20 June 2001 (age 24)[1]
Place of birth Olhão, Portugal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
Gonçalo Ramos
Ramos with Portugal in 2026
Personal information
Full name Gonçalo Matias Ramos[1]
Date of birth (2001-06-20) 20 June 2001 (age 24)[1]
Place of birth Olhão, Portugal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position Striker
Team information
Current team
Paris Saint-Germain
Number 9
Youth career
2009–2011 Olhanense
2011–2013 Loulé
2013–2019 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Benfica B 37 (16)
2020–2023 Benfica 64 (30)
2023Paris Saint-Germain (loan) 11 (2)
2023– Paris Saint-Germain 70 (25)
International career
2017–2018 Portugal U17 9 (1)
2018 Portugal U18 2 (0)
2019 Portugal U19 15 (9)
2020 Portugal U20 2 (0)
2020–2022 Portugal U21 18 (14)
2022– Portugal 24 (10)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA Nations League
Winner2025 Germany
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Runner-up2019 Armenia
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up2021 Hungary–Slovenia
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:20, 17 May 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:54, 31 March 2026 (UTC)
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Born in Olhão, Ramos came through Benfica's youth academy. He began playing for Benfica B in 2019 and was promoted to the first team a year later. Following three seasons with the first team, Ramos established himself as an integral player for the club, helping them win the league title in 2022–23. In 2023, Ramos signed for Paris Saint-Germain on an initial one-year loan deal, before joining the club permanently for €65 million.

Ramos is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at various levels, including the under-19 team that finished as runners-up at the 2019 UEFA European Championship and the under-21 team that finished as runners-up at the 2021 European Championship. He made his senior international debut in 2022, being part of the squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024.

Club career

Early career

Born in Olhão,[2] Faro District, Ramos started his football career in the youth ranks of local side Olhanense in 2009, before joining Loulé in 2011. Shortly Ramos had several trials with Sporting CP aged 9, but was rejected due to his slight frame, leading him to join their crosstown rivals youth system Benfica in 2013 at the age of 12.[3]

Benfica

2019–22: Rise to the first team

On 13 January 2019, he made his professional debut with Benfica's reserve team as an 84th-minute substitute for Nuno Tavares in a 3–2 home loss to Braga B in LigaPro.[4] On 21 July 2020, he made his first-team debut with Benfica as an 85th-minute substitute for Pizzi in a 4–0 away win over Desportivo das Aves in the Primeira Liga, netting a brace in 8 minutes.[citation needed] During that season, Ramos played in the 2019–20 UEFA Youth League, in which he was a key part of Benfica reaching the final of the competition, lost to Real Madrid (3–2), in which he scored a brace in the finals; he finished as joint-top scorer in the tournament with eight goals.[5] On 7 October 2020, he agreed to a contract extension to 2025.[6]

After a promising 2020–21 season with the B team, which he scored eleven goals in twelve games, Ramos was given a run in the first-team at the start of the 2021–22 season by manager Jorge Jesus, starting in a 2–0 home victory over Spartak Moscow in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.[7][8][9] Following the arrival of Roman Yaremchuk and the return of Darwin Núñez from injury, Ramos found limited first-team minutes, leading him to pursue a move out of the club in the winter transfer window.[10] With the arrival of interim manager Nélson Veríssimo in January 2022, who had previously coached him at the B team, Ramos began playing more regularly, and reignited his form, scoring seven goals and adding two assists. His versatility enabled him to play in various positions in attack, which the new coach found useful.[11]

On 13 April, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 3–3 away draw against Liverpool at Anfield in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals tie.[12] In doing so, he became the second youngest player (aged 20 years and 297 days) to score for the club in the final phases of the competition, though Benfica were eliminated after losing to Liverpool 6–4 on aggregate.[12]

2022–23: Breakthrough season and league title

Ramos playing for Benfica in 2022

Ramos began the 2022–23 season by scoring his first career hat-trick on 2 August in a 4–1 home win over Midtjylland in the first leg of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.[13] His prolific form saw him score two more goals and provided two assists, as part of a partnership with newly signed teammate David Neres, including a goal and an assist in the 3–0 home win over Dynamo Kiev in the second leg of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League play-off round, helping his side qualify to the tournament.[14] On 2 November, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal of the season, opening Benfica's 6–1 away win against Maccabi Haifa in their last 2022–23 UEFA Champions League group stage match, to ensure the club's qualification to the round of sixteen, as group winners.[15] After scoring five goals in five matches, he was named the league's Player of the Month and Forward of the Month for the months of October and November.[16]

On 15 January 2023, Ramos scored a brace to help the hosts secure a 2–2 draw against crosstown rivals Sporting CP in the Lisbon derby, being named man of the match.[17] In doing so, he became the second youngest player (aged 21 years and 183 days) to score a brace in the derby, since António Mendes (aged 21 years and 30 days) in 1958.[18] On 7 March, in the second leg of Champions League round-of-16, Ramos scored a brace in a 5–1 home win against Club Brugge, becoming the youngest Portuguese player (aged 21 years and 260 days) to score twice in a Champions League knockout stage match.[19] On 2 April, he scored the only goal of an away win over Rio Ave, making the youngest player to score 25 goals in a season for Benfica, since Eusébio in the 1962–1963 season.[20] Ramos finished the season with 27 goals for his team, including one on the final day of the league campaign, in a 3–0 win over Santa Clara to seal the title for Benfica, their first title in four years; his 19 league goals put him second for the season.[21]

Paris Saint-Germain

Ramos with Paris Saint-Germain in 2025

2023–24: Debut season and domestic treble

On 7 August 2023, Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain announced the signing of Ramos on a season-long loan,[22] having an option-to-buy at the end of the season for a reported fee of €65 million, with an additional €15 million in potential bonuses.[23][24] Sources claimed that the buy option was mandatory.[25]

Ramos made his debut in a 0–0 draw against Lorient at the Parc des Princes on 12 August.[26] On 24 September, Ramos scored his first two goals for PSG in his sixth appearance in a 4–0 win over Le Classique rivals Marseille, after replacing Kylian Mbappé in the 32nd minute. He also became the first player in Ligue 1 after his teammate Mbappé to score a brace coming off the bench in October 2020.[27] On 22 November, PSG announced that it had exercised its buy option in Ramos's loan deal. He signed a contract with the club until 2028.[28] On 24 November, Ramos scored his first goal since signing permanently with the club in a 5–2 win at home over Monaco.[29]

Shortly after, he caught a virus, which caused him to lose six kilograms, with the situation getting worse in December, leading Ramos to be hospitalised, with PSG requesting Benfica's help in the entire logistics and monitoring his process, which they accepted. The situation was confirmed by PSG's manager Luis Enrique on 19 January 2024, and after recovering, his form improved in the new year, scoring five goals in seven matches including, on 31 March, closing the 2–0 win over Marseille in the Le Classique at Stade Vélodrome, after replacing Kylian Mbappé in the 65th minute.[30][31][32] The rest of the season, Ramos served more as a back-up due to his condition, he would score 14 goals in his first season, while helping his team win the domestic treble with record-extending successes in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions,[33] while also reaching the Champions League semi-finals.[34]

2024–present: Consecutive league titles and European champion

On 16 August, in PSG's opening match of the new season against Le Havre, after Ramos assisted his side opening goal, he was forced off after sustaining an injury following a challenge from Étienne Youte Kinkoue.[35][36][37] After three months, he made his return from injury, on 26 November, replacing Bradley Barcola in the 72nd minute of a 1–0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League league phase.[38] On 10 December, Ramos scored his first Champions League goal for PSG in a 3–0 away win against Red Bull Salzburg.[39]

On 19 February 2025, in the second leg of the Champions League knockout phase play-offs, he got on the scoresheet in a 7–0 win over fellow Ligue 1 side Brest, scoring PSG sixth goal, and helping his side secure a 10–0 aggregate victory to advance to the Champions League round of 16.[40] On 26 February, he scored his first hat-trick for the club, netting three goals in a 7–0 win over Stade Briochin in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France.[41] Having helped PSG secure their 13th Ligue 1 title, Ramos scored his first Ligue 1 hat-trick on 10 May, netting three goals in a 4–1 away win over Montpellier.[42][43] At the end of the season, PSG secured their first ever Champions League title and completed a continental treble.[44][45][46]

In the 2025 UEFA Super Cup on 13 August, Ramos was put into the field in the 77th minute when Tottenham Hotspur held a 2–1 lead. He scored PSG's second goal in stoppage time, tying the game 2–2, which eventually PSG won 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out, with Ramos scoring PSG's first penalty.[47] On 1 October 2025, Ramos scored the winning goal against Barcelona in a 2–1 Champions League victory.[48] This made him the club's all-time top scorer as a substitute, with 17 goals off the bench.[49] On 1 November, in his 100th match for PSG, he scored a stoppage-time header in a 1–0 win over Nice.[50]

International career

2017–2022: Youth level and early senior career

With the Portugal under-17s, Ramos participated in the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in England. In this competition, he played two matches, scoring a goal against Slovenia in a group stage exit.[51] Ramos was part of the Portugal team that finished runners-up to Spain at the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Armenia. He was the top scorer with four goals in five appearances, including a hat-trick in a 4–0 win against the Republic of Ireland in the semi-finals.[52] On 12 November 2020, Ramos won his first cap for the under-21 side, scoring the third goal on his debut in a 3–0 victory in Belarus for the 2021 European Championship qualification campaign.[53] In March 2021, Ramos took part in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, helping Portugal finish as runners-up, after losing in the final 1–0 to Germany.[54] On 20 September 2022, Ramos was called up to the senior team for the first time, as a replacement for Benfica team-mate Rafa Silva, who retired from international football, for the upcoming 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches against the Czech Republic and Spain.[55]

2022–present: World Cup breakthrough and Nations League title

On 10 November 2022, Ramos was named in Portugal's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[56][57] He made his senior debut in a friendly match against Nigeria on 17 November, scoring the third goal and assisting the fourth in a 4–0 victory.[58] On 6 December, Portugal manager Fernando Santos started Ramos ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the team's round of 16 game against Switzerland. Ramos scored a hat-trick and provided an assist in Portugal's 6–1 victory,[59] becoming the first player to score a World Cup knockout stage hat-trick since Tomáš Skuhravý in 1990.[60][61] He also became the first player to score a hat-trick in his first World Cup start since Miroslav Klose in 2002.[62] Portugal employed the same strategy in the quarter-finals against Morocco, with Ramos starting once again, but Portugal lost 1–0, being eliminated from the tournament.[63][64]

Following the World Cup, with the arrival of new manager Roberto Martínez, Ramos lost his place to Ronaldo in Portugal's squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.[65] After Ronaldo was suspended in a qualifier match against Slovakia, Ramos was given a chance to score brace in Portugal's 9–0 home defeat of Luxembourg on 11 September, Portugal's biggest win in international history.[66] On 13 October, Ramos scored the opening goal in a 3–2 win over Slovakia, leading Portugal to qualify for Euro 2024, marking the nation's fastest qualification to a major tournament in their history.[67]

On 21 May 2024, he was named in Portugal's squad for final tournament in Germany,[68] where Portugal was eliminated from the tournament by France in the quarter-finals, after losing 5–3 in a penalty shootout.[69]

In May 2025, Ramos was selected for Portugal’s 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals squad.[70] He and his team would go on to win the tournament 5–3 in a penalty shootout over rivals Spain, with Ramos scoring Portugal's first penalty.[71]

Style of play

Ramos is capable of playing in several offensive positions, such as a striker, or second striker. He usually drops deep to help his team build their attacking play by bringing his teammates into play and creating chances for other players. Due to his awareness and willingness to follow instructions, he understands how to rotate positions in ways in which to benefit the ball-holder with his movement, short or long passes. When he is offering short, he aims to be positive in his control of the ball, he attempts to open his body up each time, with either foot, being able to hold up the ball and act as his team focal point in attack.[72][73]

During his second season at Benfica, under Roger Schmidt, Ramos was used as a striker in a 4–2–3–1 formation. His ability to attack space and create further space both inside and outside the penalty area with his movement is what made the move to the centre a more natural progression. Ramos is good at picking up positions between the opposition's defenders and then exploiting space behind the defensive line. He presses with intent and is not afraid to put himself about against the opposition. Ramos usually links up with the midfield and makes proactive movements which always can put a striker in a goal-scoring position more often rather than standing around and waiting for the service, similar to Karim Benzema.[72][73]

Personal life

Ramos' father, Manuel Ramos, originally from Amareleja, Beja District, is also a former Portugal youth international who represented Farense among other Portuguese clubs.[74]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 May 2026[75]
More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Benfica B 2018–19 LigaPro 5151
2019–20 LigaPro 204204
2020–21 LigaPro 12111211
Total 37163716
Benfica 2019–20 Primeira Liga 120000000012
2020–21 Primeira Liga 4252102[c]000124
2021–22 Primeira Liga 297204011[d]1468
2022–23 Primeira Liga 3019201114[d]74727
Total 6430926127810641
Paris Saint-Germain (loan) 2023–24 Ligue 1 1124[d]000152
Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 189433[d]0002512
2024–25 Ligue 1 22106512[d]36[e]14619
2025–26 Ligue 1 3062210[d]22[f]24412
PSG total 812712102958313045
Career total 18273211261561383273102
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  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. One appearance in Trophée des Champions, five appearances and one goal in FIFA Club World Cup
  3. One appearance and one goal in UEFA Super Cup, one appearance and one goal in Trophée des Champions

International

As of match played 31 March 2026[76]
More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal 202254
202353
202441
202582
202620
Total2410
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As of match played 16 November 2025.
Portugal score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ramos goal.[76]
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Gonçalo Ramos
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
117 November 2022Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal1 Nigeria3–04–0Friendly
26 December 2022Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail, Qatar4  Switzerland1–06–12022 FIFA World Cup
33–0
45–1
511 September 2023Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal8 Luxembourg2–09–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
63–0
713 October 2023Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal9 Slovakia1–03–2UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
821 March 2024Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães, Portugal11 Sweden5–15–2Friendly
923 March 2025Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal15 Denmark5–25–2 (a.e.t.)2024–25 UEFA Nations League A
1016 November 2025Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal22 Armenia2–19–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification
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Honours

References

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