The Rising Portugal Star Taking On The Mantle Of Cristiano Ronaldo

The UEFA Nations League game between Portugal and Poland this week may have lacked the gloss and glamour that we have been accustomed to in recent years through appearances by Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski, but it certainly offered the stage for one rising star to shine.

Assisted by the resurgent Renato Sanches just after the half hour mark, Sevilla striker André Silva opened the scoring for the hosts at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques. It’s yet just another stepping stone as the 23-year-old Silva takes leaps and strides to climbing up to the elite European plateau. Silva is now just seven goals away from squeezing into the top ten goalscorers for his country, with 15 goals in 31 appearances for Portugal - three in their four UNL fixtures - replicating the form he has shown at club level.

Sevilla have exceeded all expectations so far this season, initiated by a stellar recruitment policy in the summer that saw them bring in ten new faces and yet still take home a £15 million profit. One of the more effective acquisitions was the young Silva, taken on loan from Serie A outfit AC Milan for the season with an option to buy at the end of this season.

Already a scorer of seven goals in La Liga from eleven appearances, Silva’s prolificacy in front of goal is a fundamental reason for Los Hispalenses surge up the La Liga table, and are currently nestled in second behind only Barcelona.

It’s a remarkable turnaround from his tenure at the Rossoneri, wherein his last season he only bagged twice in 24 league appearances in Italy. Sevilla are speculated to part with £27m to make Silva a permanent part of the furniture at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, allowing Milan to recoup some of the £34m they paid Porto for the forward in 2017.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence for the national team has of course dominated headlines of late, with the prancing Portuguese prince - now of Juventus - in a self-imposed hiatus following the World Cup. With Portugal now qualified for the Finals to be held in their country next summer, it’s widely expected that CR7 will return to his stomping ground.

If Silva’s form continues, A Seleção das Quinas may not be clamouring as fervently for their all-time top goalscorer to return to the fold in eight months time.