AC Milan’s struggles in front of goal continued on Monday night as they failed to score against Napoli at the Maradona.
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As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report, Massimiliano Allegri tried five different forwards during the loss to Napoli, but none of them managed to find the back of the net. Milan’s slowdown has seen them lose three of their last six games 1-0.
This can also be explained by the strikers’ struggles and an attacking unit that has performed less well than the others all season, especially since January. Allegri has long been aware of the problem, and when Leao and Pulisic were injured in the fall, he masked the shortcomings by finding “alternative” goals.
In the first three months of 2026, however, the situation has become more complicated because Pulisic has been stuck since the goal he scored on December 28 against Verona, Füllkrug netted only vs. Lecce and has been living with a broken toe for weeks, while Gimenez has returned from two matches after nearly five months out.
And the others? Nkunku hasn’t scored a goal since February 3rd in Bologna, but the former Chelsea player’s last goal from open play dates back to January 11th in Florence. Leao returned yesterday for the final seven minutes plus injury time after a recurrence of pubalgia.
Physically, Leao has had a nightmare season, starting with a right calf problem in mid-August in the Coppa Italia against Bari and continuing with the pubalgia.
Not enough up to
AC Milan’s forwards have scored just eight goals in 2026: four from Leao, three from Nkunku and one from Füllkrug. A paltry figure considering that since the first match of the new calendar year, the away match against Cagliari, 15 games have been played.
The slowdown, however, was even more evident in the last month or so, when Leao scored the inconsequential counter-attack goal to make it 2-0 against Cremonese. There ended the contribution from the attackers.
Even looking at the numbers for the entire 2025-26 season, however, the situation isn’t much better. In Serie A, no one is in double figures, with Leao having scored nine goals, Pulisic eight, Nkunku five, Füllkrug one and Gimenez zero.
To secure the points needed to finish in the top four, someone will need to wake up, starting Saturday against Udinese. Ahead of next season there will be a revolution, and in addition to a true Champions League level centre-forward, there will be other changes up front.
Füllkrug will not be signed permanently, Gimenez may remain as a reserve number nine if he doesn’t receive offers and Nkunku will likely pack his bags after just one season. However, neither Pulisic’s (who has the best chance of staying) nor Leao’s future are guaranteed.