Everything you need to know about silky Portuguese Rafael Leao
Rafael Leao is a Portuguese professional football player who currently plays as a forward for Serie A club AC Milan and the Portuguese national team. He was born on June 10, 1999, in Almada, Portugal.
Leao started his youth career at Sporting CP in Lisbon, Portugal,at the age of nine. In the 2017-2018 season, he made five appearances for Sporting CP, scoring two goals. However, his time at the club was cut short due to a controversial incident in which a group of fans attacked him and several other players at the team's training ground. This led to him terminating his contract with the club in June 2018.
After leaving Sporting CP, Leao signed for Lille OSC in France. In his debut season, he made 26 appearances in Ligue 1, scoring eight goals and providing two assists. He helped Lille finish second in the league and qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Leao's performances in his debut season in France attracted interest from some of Europe's top clubs, and in August 2019, he signed for AC Milan in Italy on a five-year deal for a reported fee of€35 million plus a 20% sell-on clause. Over the course of his Milan career, the forward has helped them reach the Champions League for the first time since 2014 and led them to their first Serie A title since 2011.
Leao has represented Portugal at various youth levels and made his debut for the senior team in October 2021. He has since made 18 appearances for Portugal, scoring three goals, including two at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Leao is known for his pace, dribbling skills, and finishing ability. He is also versatile and can play as a centre-forward or on the wing. His ability to play in multiple positions makes him a valuable asset for any team. Overall, Leao is a talented forward with the potential to become one of Europe's top players and brings back memories of players such as former AC Milan winger Ronaldinho with his flair and dribbling skills.
Here are 13 fun facts about Leao you need to know…!
The heart of a lion
The name given to him by his parents in Portuguese means 'lionheart', a name Leao has lived up to throughout his career. While the winger mostly sports a laid-back attitude which may make people feel he doesn't put too much effort or care into his life, he has had to push through many hurdles to reach where he is today.
From a tough childhood in Almada to taking a full season to get adapted to Serie A football, Leao has shown he has the heart of a lion to overcome the ordeals life throws at him and become one of the most talented players in football today.
AdvertisementGettyEarly beginnings
Leao joined Sporting CP's academy at the young age of nine after a small spell at another Portuguese club called Amora. After making his way through the different levels of the club's academy, the winger was given his senior debut by famed manager Jorge Jesus 10 years after he had first joined the institution in a game against Feirense, replacing Bryan Ruiz.
Almost signed for Benfica
In another world, Leao would've grown through the ranks of Sporting CP's rival Benfica's academy and probably played a bit longer in the Portuguese league before moving for a heavy sum like most Benfica talents do. However, despite signing as a young kid for the club, he and his family finally decided against the move at the last moment.
Leao stated that the travel to and fro from his house to Benfica's training ground was too far, and his family couldn't afford it. Therefore joining Sporting CP made more sense, and the rest, as they say, is history.
An abrupt end to life at Sporting
Leao may have moved on from Sporting CP fairly quickly after his debut due to his high potential and talent. However, the May 2018 attack by supporters of the club on its training ground, where many players and staff were hurt, changed the forward's mind and hastened the process.
In June of the same year, Leao chose to terminate his contract with the club where he started his football career, choosing to join Ligue 1 side Lille for free on a five-year deal.