Gonçalo Ramos shares comment hailing him 'best' after Ronaldo's exit

Gonçalo Ramos has added another layer of tension to the crisis within the Portuguese national team. On Sunday, after his winning goal against Norway, the AC Milan striker reposted on Instagram a comment from journalist Luis Freitas Lobo stating that he is “today the best striker in our football” — a barely veiled dig at Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been absent from the squad since being left on the bench at the previous gathering.

The timing is telling. Ronaldo had left the gathering after being dropped from the starting eleven against Norway. In his absence, Portugal won twice and secured qualification for the quarter-finals. Ramos, started in his place, scored three goals and provided one assist during this international window, including two decisive finishes.

At 25, the former PSG player is emerging from a period in a secondary role within the Seleção, where he was often used as a substitute. These performances now give him a legitimacy that is hard to ignore for manager Roberto Martínez. But it is the Instagram story that risks making the most noise in the coming days: publicly reposting a comment that challenges Ronaldo’s status is a gesture that does not go unnoticed in a dressing room already under tension.

It remains to be seen how the technical staff and Ronaldo himself have received this post, and whether it further complicates the coexistence between the two men at future gatherings.