Portugal's new hero Goncalo Ramos, tasked to fill legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo's shoes, fired the first hat-trick of the Qatar World Cup 2022 during their 6-1 victory over Switzerland. Fernando Santos' men will now face Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Goncalo Ramos, Portugal's new hero, scored the first hat-trick of the Qatar World Cup 2022 as Fernando Santos' men registered an emphatic 6-1 victory to knock Switzerland out of the showpiece tournament and set up a quarter-finals clash against Morocco.ย
Leaving Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for Portugal's first knockout game of the competition raised more than a few eyebrows. However, Santos was perfectly justified when his 21-year-old replacement fired a sensational hat-trick as part of a genuinely dominant performance.
In his first-ever start for Portugal, Benfica forward Ramos, tasked to fill the gigantic boots of iconic striker Ronaldo, scored Portugal's opening goal from a tight angle inside the area in the 17th minute of the clash. And it was not long before 39-year-old Pepe made it 2-0 with a thumping header from a corner.
After halftime, Ramos made the night even more remarkable by scoring his brace with a close-range strike, almost definitely sending Portugal into the quarter-final. Raphael Guerreiro added a fourth goal before the hour mark with a skillfully performed strike high into the roof of the net. The play was fluid and free-flowing.
Then, Manuel Akaji of Manchester City scored a consolation goal for Switzerland after finding himself unmarked at the back post from a corner in the 58th minute of the game. However, Ramos sealed his big night with a hat-trick in the 67th minute after being set up by a rapid exchange of passes in the penalty area.
Goncalo Ramos:
โCristiano Ronaldo is our leader. He is my reference and an idol to many of us.โ pic.twitter.com/OcwfvrhORg
Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo entered the game with 15 minutes remaining and scored less than ten minutes later, but he was unfortunate because he was far offside. A fantastic night for the Portuguese was concluded with a stunning goal from substitute Rafael Leao, sparking massive jubilation among fans.
However, Goncalo Ramos' first hat-trick for Portugal and a first hat-trick at the Qatar World Cup 2022 swept fans off their feet. Nicknamed 'O Pistoleiro', which means 'The Shooter' in Portuguese, enthusiasts could not stop praising the young gun, with some even suggesting that he could be a catch in the upcoming January window.
Former England legend Gary Linekar said, "What an incredible night for Goncalo Ramos. With all the pressure of replacing one of the footballing greats, he scores a hat-trick. Remarkable."
"Gonรงalo Ramos - take a bow. He becomes the first player to score a hat-trick on his first WC start since Miroslav Klose for Germany in 2002," noted another Twtter user.
A third user commented, "Gonรงalo Ramos came into this game against Switzerland as Ronaldoโs replacement and had only played 33 minutes of international football. He needed 67 minutes to score the first hat-trick of this World Cup. Wow! Parabรฉns. He is just 21 years."
Here's a look at how football enthusiasts reacted to Ramos' remarkable night that fired Portugal to the quarter-finals of the Qatar World Cup 2022:
Benfica owners watching Enzo and Ramos at the World Cup pic.twitter.com/wyX0xDgAAL
โ TC (@totalcristiano)GONรALO RAMOS. 21 years old. First hat-trick for Portugal. First hat-trick of the World Cup 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo is proud! ๐๐ pic.twitter.com/CMbwBeIxyT
World Cup Hattricks:
Cristiano Ronaldo: 1 ๐
Goncalo Ramos: 1
Lionel Messi: 0
๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ
Goncalo Ramosโ game by numbers vs. Switzerland:
25 touches
5 shots on target
3 aerial duels won
3 goals
2 key passes
1 assist
His FIRST start at a World Cup. ๐คฏ pic.twitter.com/AgydBXNsCP
What an incredible night for Goncalo Ramos. With all the pressure of replacing one of the footballing greats, he scores a hattrick. Remarkable.
โ Gary Lineker ๐๐ (@GaryLineker)๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ
The unique celebration by hat-trick hero Gonรงalo Ramos is a reference to his nickname of ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ which means "The shooter" in Portuguese! pic.twitter.com/R0a4BhMKhY
GONCALO RAMOS WITH THE FIRST 2022 WORLD CUP HAT-TRICK ๐ต๐น
Meanwhile Portugal supporters like๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/KyWx3AUt3k
Gonรงalo Ramos - take a bow๐
He becomes the first player to score a hat-trick on his first WC start since Miroslav Klose for Germany in 2002. pic.twitter.com/saI2JoQ0h9
A Goncalo Ramos hat-trick ๐ pic.twitter.com/JcNOAZiokU
โ FootballJOE (@FootballJOE)Gonรงalo Ramos came into this game against Switzerland as Ronaldoโs replacement and had only played 33 minutes of international football.
He needed 67 minutes to score the first hat-trick of this World Cup. Wow! Parabรฉns. He is just 21 years. pic.twitter.com/Crs1MblSqj
Benfica after watching Goncalo Ramos performance pic.twitter.com/0MjOocfQDn
โ Tackle From Behind (@tacklefromb)Goncalo Ramos linked to Man United by the morning.
โ The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC)Man United might have to keep an eye out Goncalo Ramos for January
Checked his goal scoring form for Benfica this season and it's actually quite good man
I doubt we get him tho
Arsenal should sign Gonรงalo Ramos man what a player
โ ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ง๐ท๐ซ๐ท (@bergkvmp)Gonรงalo Ramos has scored a hattrick in his first World Cup start. Hello , I heard youโre looking for Gabriel Jesusโs replacement. Heโs only 21.
โ Mazi Olisaemeka C. โข (@OlisaOsega)Googles Goncalo Ramos.
-striker
-21
-Benfica
-45 appearances 20 goals.
-world cup hat-trick
Arsenal need a striker.... pic.twitter.com/FAisbYWjJf
POV: fans getting ready to make compilation videos of Gonรงalo Ramos to then join spaces and say we need to sign him because he balled out a world cup match... ๐๐ pic.twitter.com/BvP3fHO6i7
โ Melina ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐จ๐ญ๐ง๐ท (@MisssMelina)