Performance In Numbers

3 goals, 1 assist, 5 shots on target: Leeds United left to rue not signing another World Cup sensation

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Portugal’s choice to drop Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench last night paid as 21-year-old summer Leeds United target Gonçalo Ramos netted a sublime hattrick.

We’ve already seen Cody Gakpo showcase his quality on the World Cup stage with three goals, but he’s not the only player Leeds were interested in signing that is impressing.

A round of 16 clash between Portugal and Switzerland came with the bold call from Fernando Santos to place Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench in place of Benfica’s 21-year-old striker Gonçalo Ramos.

The youngster was linked with a move away in the summer of 2022, with Ben Jacobs revealing last night that the Portuguese forward has interest from Leeds United, amongst other Premier League clubs.

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His asking price from the summer was an already lofty €45million after he’s successfully stepped into the role vacated by Darwin Nunez, but his performance last night appears to have skyrocketed his value further.

Starting for Portugal, he helped them progress to the quarter-finals in a 6-1 rout by scoring a stunning hattrick.

A right-footer, Ramos came into the box in the 22nd minute thanks to a swift pas from Joao Felix, before rifling a quick shot with his weaker left into the roof of the net, down Yann Sommer’s near post before he could react.

Any lingering hope of Leeds signing the striker evaporated at the same time Switzerland’s hopes of reaching the last eight did. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Ramos’ second goal came from his left foot too as he nipped in front of his man to get on the end of Diogo Dalot’s cross, to poke a shot through Sommer’s legs for 3-0.

He then notched an assist as Portugal swiftly broke forward, and he slipped a pass through to also Leeds-linked man, Raphael Guerreiro, who fired high into the net for a fourth.

Ramos completed his hattrick on 67 minutes when slid through again by Joao Felix, to then show a deft finish as he dinked the ball over an on-rushing Sommer.

This came amidst five shots for the striker, with all five being on target, while managing a passing accuracy of 80% with eight out of 10 going to a Portugal shirt (stats via Wyscout). Ramos scored his hattrick from an xG score of just 1.54, showing the ruthlessness needed to prove he can fill the huge void left by Ronaldo’s omission.

The 21-year-old put himself about too, engaging in 15 duels to unsettle two Premier League centre-backs in Fabian Schar and Manuel Akanji.

His valuation was already out of Leeds’ bracket in the summer, but you best believe that this performance alone will have seen Benfica rubbing their hands together about what a talent they have, and how much money they can command now.

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Leeds United season ticket holder since 2013/14, currently situated in the middle of the FA5 noise. From Pablo Hernandez to 5-1 drubbings, I've seen it all at Elland Road.