The opening half of the 2023-24 season was not a true reflection of Rafael Leao, and whilst his assist tally rose, his goals had dropped below the amount that AC Milan have seen him achieve in the past. However, his start to 2024 has shown he is back to his best, or close to it.
On Thursday evening, Leao scored in a 5-2 victory against Sweden for Portugal, and given he only played 45 minutes, this is an impressive feat. However, he will not have a chance to bolster his international record, as he has left the Portugal camp early for rotation reasons – allowing him to rest further with a busy schedule was also noted as a reason for his departure.
His international spell will have been well received by Milan for several reasons. Firstly, he has returned unscathed, earlier than expected, which is a massive positive considering the magnitude of some of the upcoming fixtures.
More importantly, though, is that he has continued his club form to the National Team and did so with a brilliant goal. As MilanNews writes, in recent months, his goals and assists have increased, which is a positive in itself, but the consistency he has re-found makes him one of the best in the world in his position.
For Portugal, as he is with the Rossoneri, he was a central figure in a short cameo, causing danger at every chance. Whilst the start of his season may not have impressed as much as he has in the past, he is showing signs that he is returning to his best at the right time, with some pivotal fixtures approaching.
