According to Portuguese outlet SIC Notícias, with Ronaldo announcing his retirement from the Portuguese national team, Gonçalo Ramos has become the leading candidate to take over the starting striker position, while players such as Felix and Fábio Silva are also expected to get more playing time in the new cycle. Head coach Jorge Jesus will announce the new national team squad this Friday.
Gonçalo Ramos said in an interview with Canal 11 last October: "If anyone should be playing, or should be competing to play, it's me." He contributed three goals and one assist in Portugal's four Nations League matches and admitted that earning a starting place was his goal. He also said he could coexist with Ronaldo in the starting lineup, although successive coaches rarely used that combination. With Ronaldo now gone, the situation has changed.
Portugal's recent matches indicate that the Milan forward is the first choice at central striker, regardless of the team's tactical formation. The former Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain player started three of the last four national team matches, a period that coincided with the strained relationship between Jorge Jesus and Ronaldo, which ultimately led Ronaldo to leave the training camp midway through the intensive Nations League schedule.
Against Norway, Ramos scored one goal and had another disallowed before being replaced by Trincão in the 81st minute. Against Denmark, he assisted the first goal and scored the second before being replaced in the 82nd minute by Felix, who was also one of the most prominent players in the early stages of Jorge Jesus's tenure. In the final match, again against Haaland's Norway, he played the full 90 minutes and scored once more.
During the 2026 World Cup, Ramos said: "Whenever a goal is needed in the final minutes, you can call Gonçalo Ramos." In that tournament, he became the hero of the round of 16 against Croatia, helping the team to a 2-1 victory. Now he should get more opportunities, rather than fragmented playing time, to prove himself.
Gonçalo Ramos may become Jorge Jesus's number nine, but with Ronaldo's withdrawal, other players are also expected to gain more attention. Ronaldo had previously been included in Jorge Jesus's preliminary squad but announced his withdrawal before the coach revealed the final squad on Friday. The most obvious candidate is Felix, who could form a striking partnership with the Milan forward.
The Al Nassr attacker has admitted his desire to return to European football and is an important option for Jorge Jesus at the start of the new cycle. He started three of the four matches, twice alongside Ramos and once alongside Ronaldo, and was directly involved in goals in every match, even though he played only eight minutes against Denmark.
More striking than his goals or assists is the new role Jesus has given Felix. He is moving away from the wing and into central areas, acting as a link between the opposition's midfield and defensive lines. After announcing his first national team squad in September, Jesus said: "Under me, João doesn't play on the wing. Under me, he will always be a second striker."
Jorge Jesus went further, asserting that the Benfica academy product, who joined Atlético Madrid for 120 million euros in 2019, "will become a true striker over time." He said: "I have no doubt about it."
Fábio Silva was a surprise in the last squad. Will Gustavo Varela be the new surprise?
Based on their characteristics and the coach's choices, Ramos and Felix are the most likely players to lead Portugal's attack, but there are other players to watch. One of them is Fábio Silva, who was the biggest surprise in Jorge Jesus's first squad. The Borussia Dortmund forward returned to the national team after two years and did not get any playing time in the recent Nations League matches, but he could be a natural option to replace the central striker during games.
These three, plus Ronaldo, were the only regular strikers or second strikers in the squad's attacking line. However, Jesus has said he can also rely on Leão. Jesus said: "He never played on the wing when he played under me; he always played as a true striker. In fact, I played him as a true striker in a match against Porto. It helps to have players who can play different positions."
Friday's squad could also bring a new name to Portugal's attack if Jesus chooses another striker to fill Ronaldo's place. One of the hottest candidates is Monza's Gustavo Varela, who has scored nine goals in nine matches and is Serie A's top scorer. The 21-year-old won the Serie A Young Player of the Month award this Wednesday, and according to A Bola, he has been included in the national team's preliminary squad. Other options include Porto's André Silva and Braga's Ricardo Horta.
