Rafael Leao once again showed his match-winning capabilities for AC Milan in their huge victory against Roma, and he is now the leader of this team.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write, Leao can be a strange player to watch on the field. Sometimes he seems detached when he’s actually involved, it seems like everything could slide past him, but he absorbs everything with a smile, like a coiled spring ready to leap into action.
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He was smiling two nights ago, when he outpaced Evan N’Dicka and provided the assist for the winning goal. It is a moment that Milan chose to replay on social media in slow motion, so that Rossoneri fans could fully appreciate it.
Leao was also genuinely smiling when he returned from the pitch to find the entire dressing room applauding him. Everyone was standing for him and Mike Maignan, who had lingered on the San Siro pitch for the customary post-match interviews.
Rafa and Mike had in fact been voted men of the match: Leao for setting up Strahinja Pavlovic’s goal, Maignan for keeping the lead with the penalty save on Paulo Dybala. Two leaders, both decisive, at two ends of the pitch.
Graduation
Today, Leao is somewhere in between a talent who still has a lot of potential to show, but also one of the Rossoneri’s veterans. Excluding Matteo Gabbia who came through the academy, he is the longest-tenured player in the squad.
On the pitch, he demonstrates his leadership: before, it was the others who encouraged him but two nights ago against Roma, he was the one who turned to his team-mates who were struggling to clap in encouragement. The applause was reciprocated in the dressing room.
Leao also served the team with other gestures, such as the perfect assist to Pavlovic which came from a typical driving run down the left side, quite far away from the position that Allegri seemed to have tailored for him, that of centre-forward.
Rafa became one of three forwards, alongside Dybala and Lautaro Martinez, to have both scored and provided at least one assist in each of the last seven Serie A seasons (since 2019-20, his debut campaign in red and black).
The numbers
In addition to assists, there are also goals. He has three goals in four league starts, three of which he played until the 90th minute. In Bergamo against Atalanta, Rafa came off due to a hip issue. He scored in his only Coppa Italia game against Bari, before coming off after 17 minutes due to a calf issue.
His season total is 380 minutes, with a goal every 126 minutes and a decisive play (goal or assist) every 95 minutes. It is well above his previous standards: Leao has played 18,102 minutes with Milan in total, scoring 74 goals, or once every 245 minutes.
It’s also unusual that Leao remained on the pitch against Roma despite his sub-par form, only leaving the pitch with cramp deep into injury time, amid chants and applause from the San Siro.
On numerous other occasions, he had finished the match giving the impression he hadn’t given his all. Not this time. Rafa was a leader, and a contract renewal continues to be spoken about.
the only world class talent we have in our disposal !! the last time we had a player like Leao it was young Alexander Pato.
Pulisic as well, he scores in big games too
I’d add Pulisic to that list and Modric sure does look quite at home amongst other WC midfielders, even at 40. I’m thinking Rabiot is there too.
…and we all know what happened to Pato. Despite his undoubted talent.
Are you saying that talent alone isn’t enough (which is true btw)? Careful now, you might trigger some people and they’ll soon call you a hater. 😉
Pato had injuries ruin his career. You’re such a re*ard.
Basically you confirmed that talent isn’t enough. He had talent but he never made it big.
Have you written any comments here without attacking someone? Name-calling really shows your age. 🙂
Rhetorical question. Not expecting an answer really.
Yes, he got injured. 🤣🤣🤣 Tell us your fantasy now please…
and what is your point here?
Long live the king!
Amen!!
I love Leao but how many times have we seen this? All the media hailed like he’s one step from winning ballon d’or when he put his performance, but next week he’d be slaughtered when he didn’t. He put good numbers, yes, no one has ever doubted it. And he did it with all his extreme volatility. Just imagine what the numbers would be if he’s stable week in week out.
We all know he has an out of this world talent. To show it consistently is the only thing left we expect him to do. So please stop all these media contrary assessment each week and let’s wait ’till the end of the season to give him any judgement.
you are either clouded by hatred or just living in denial about Leao’s Talent and achievement with Milan, He has consistently carry this team in the last 5 season. The whole of San Siro had a standing ovation for the heroic Leao.
Excerpt from the article: “Rafa became one of three forwards, alongside Dybala and Lautaro Martinez, to have both scored and provided at least one assist in each of the last seven Serie A seasons (since 2019-20, his debut campaign in red and black”
You’re not getting my point then. I literally said no one (moreover a Milan fan) has ever doubted his talent and numbers in Milan. Amazingly he achieved all that with such volatile performance. Can you imagine if he does all that with a stable performance? That’s everyone (all pundits, ex players, etc) imagines.
And this kind of headline in media is a living proof. You can simply scroll down on what the media said about Leao after the Atalanta show. One week he’s the king, one week he’s the clown. Just too tiring.
I hope if he doesn’t play well in the next match nobody here or the press will castigate him?
When GDS who is Leao number one haters suddenly switch gear to heap praise, just no that they had no choice than to join the real Milan fans not the keyboard warriors and hater, Leao is a game changer any day any time
“It is a moment that Milan chose to replay on social media in slow motion, so that Rossoneri fans could fully appreciate it”.
Please haters appreciate him, Vinicius Jr, Mbappe don’t deliver week in week out.
Do you still want him sold?
Stop listening to the clownshow. There is no one like him in the squad, even in Serie A for that matter. He and Pulisic are going to be really tough for defenses to control. Add Rabiot back in and this Milan sqaud will be challenging right to the end.