Goncalo Ramos, who scored a hat trick for Portugal and started his first game in the World Cup knockout round, said that he had never even dreamed of starting a World Cup knockout match, much alone scoring three goals in his first game of the tournament.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo was passed over for a starting spot in favour of Ramos, and Ramos promptly repaid coach Fernando Santos with a great performance that won the match.
It was his first start in a World Cup knockout game, and he scored three goals.
“However, we must take each game as it comes and be ready for the next one, which is the quarterfinal against Morocco. This outcome is irrelevant at this point. In the upcoming match, we are going to give it our very best effort.”
The question was presented to the 21-year-old striker about how the rest of the squad, as well as Ronaldo, had responded to the unexpected team selection from Santos.
“To tell you the truth, no one on the team brought it up. Cristiano, in his role as captain, did what he is supposed to do: he assisted, he communicated with us, and he chatted to us “he stated.
According to Ramos, Ronaldo served as a model for him while he was developing into a young man.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has always been someone to look up to, and many people look up to him as a hero. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robert Lewandowski are two more players that catch my eye “he continued.