Life after Ronaldo – Five players that could replace the forward’s goals for Portugal

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40 years old and still going 

©TM/IMAGO

With the return of the international break comes the inevitable discussion about when Cristiano Ronaldo will play his final game for Portugal. Having just turned 40 years of age, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward continues to defy the odds and remains a potent source of goals for his national team. Prior to their double header with Denmark, Ronaldo had bagged an impressive five goals and an assist in Portugal’s first five Nations League games. However, that’s not to say that he isn’t thinking about his inevitable retirement. 

“I just want to enjoy it,” said Ronaldo late last year when asked about hanging up his boots. “Plan for retirement? If it has to happen, in one or two years. I don’t know. I’m turning 40 soon. I really want to enjoy it, as long as I feel motivated I keep going. The day I don’t feel motivated, I will retire. When I decide to leave the national team, I’ll do it spontaneously but thoughtfully. There won’t be any advance announcements. I don’t see myself managing a team; that’s not in my plans. My future lies in other areas outside of football, although time will tell what happens.”

Indeed, it seems as though Ronaldo is keeping his cards close to his chest but may decide to conclude his international career at a moment’s notice at any point in the next few years. Not only will it be a sad day for the sport but it will also be a serious concern for Portugal, who have relied on his goals since he made his debut for the national team in 2003. So who could Roberto Martínez turn to if or when Ronaldo finally decides to retire? Let’s take a look at the main candidates. 

Perhaps the most obvious answer to that at this moment in time is Ronaldo’s right-hand man with the national team, Bruno Fernandes. The attacking midfielder is the second highest goalscorer for the national team behind Ronaldo when it comes to players still playing, having bagged an impressive 25 goals in 77 games. That works out at 0.33 goals per game for Portugal. And while it may not be as high as Ronaldo’s 0.62 per game, Fernandes has shown for Manchester United and his national team that he often thrives when tasked with being the unorthodox talisman of a team. 

When Ronaldo does eventually retire, most Portuguese fans will likely turn to Rafael Leão in the hope that he could step up to the plate and perform for his national team. Not only does Leão play in Ronaldo’s former position on the left wing, but he also often showcases all the speed and skills that made the former Man Utd star a world class talent. However, what Leão lacks is goals. While his 68 goals in 250 games for AC Milan isn’t bad, just five in 38 caps for Portugal hardly points to a reliable goalscorer. If Leão is to succeed Ronaldo for his country, he’ll have to get far more clinical in front of goal. 

Another ready-made star that may look to use Ronaldo’s retirement as an opportune time for him to cement his spot in the national team is João Felix. On loan at AC Milan from Chelsea, Felix’s club career has certainly hit a few bumps in the road over the last two or three seasons, but he remains a regular player for Portugal and could certainly slot straight into Ronaldo’s position – as he did in Portugal’s recent game against Croatia. However, like Leão, Felix’s record for Portugal is hardly outstanding and with just nine goals in 45 appearances to date he too would need to prove that he could make a significant step up for Martinez’s team going forward. 

One player that may have the goalscoring talent to rival even Ronaldo for Portugal is Paris Saint-Germain striker Gonçalo Ramos. In his first 14 caps for the national team, the 23-year-old striker has already bagged eight goals and two assists, giving him an impressive average of 1.43 goals or assists per 90 for Portugal. Couple that with his 14 goals in 18 games for Portugal’s U21 side and it seems abundantly clear that if Ramos can continue that kind of goalscoring for the senior team then he should be a shoe-in to replace Ronaldo’s presence in the box for years to come. 

One final option for Martinez in the not-too-distant future may be young winger Francisco Conceição. The 22-year-old talent is currently on loan at Juventus from Porto, and has enjoyed a decent season in Italy with five goals and five assists in 30 (most substitute) appearances for the Old Lady. However, while those numbers may not sound too impressive, it’s worth bearing in mind that the winger averaged 0.82 goals or assists per 90 for Portugal’s U21 side and already has one goal and three assists in eight appearances for the senior team. And considering his remarkable dribbling ability, there are few players in Portugal’s national pool of players that come closer to a young Ronaldo than Conceição at this moment in time.