Goncalo Ramos has opened up about a specific conversation he shared with Cristiano Ronaldo during the FIFA World Cup match against Croatia. Portugal clinched a spot in the Round of 16 after a challenging 2-1 win, a result punctuated by a vital late strike from Ramos.
Reflecting on the game, Ramos told reporters that Ronaldo encouraged him to be ready to contribute. The young forward responded by confidently assuring the Al-Nassr captain during the break that if he entered the pitch, he would find the back of the net. “Ronaldo told me I was going to help. And I told him at halftime not to worry, that if I came on, I was going to score,” he stated according to O Jogo.
Manager Roberto Martinez initially kept Ramos on the bench, starting the match with Ronaldo in the lineup. After the team fell behind, Martinez brought the AC Milan forward on for Joao Cancelo in the 62nd minute. This tactical shift allowed both strikers to share the field temporarily, which helped swing the momentum in Portugal’s favor. While Martinez eventually withdrew Ronaldo in the 81st minute, Ramos managed to net the decisive winning goal during stoppage time, setting up a forthcoming match against Spain.
