Rafael Leão

Rafael Leão is a Portuguese striker born in Almada on June 10, 1999. A left winger with blistering pace and refined technical ability, Leão became one of the most exciting players in European football after establishing himself at AC Milan, the club where he became an idol. Formed at Sporting CP, Leão caught attention in the youth categories due to his outstanding physical and technical potential. In 2018, he transferred to Lille in France, where he took his first steps in European professional football before joining Milan in 2019 for approximately 35 million euros. At Milan, Leão flourished progressively under Stefano Pioli's guidance. His 2021-22 season was memorable: the Portuguese was instrumental in Milan's Scudetto title, the first in 11 years, being named the best player in Serie A. His pace, dribbling ability, and goalscoring instinct made him uncontrollable for Italian defenses. For the Portuguese national team, Leão participated in major competitions, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and established himself as one of the main names in Portugal's post-Cristiano Ronaldo generation.