Rafael Leao is not surfing because the time of high waves is over, the Rossoneri sea is calmer than ever. The time of storms is gone, now it is time to enjoy first place and the San Siro celebration.

AC Milan players ميلان — The Rossoneri players celebrate during a match against Fiorentina (AC Milan via Getty Images)

Milan, hit by injuries, overturns Fiorentina and climbs to the top of the Serie A table. The 2022 Serie A champion Milan found its driving force in Leao, a technical leader later recognized as the league’s best player.

Milan returns to the top thanks to Rafa, again among the team’s technical leaders. Modric earns the crowd’s applause for his recoveries and is generous enough to let the loudest cheers go to Leao. Rafa had not scored at San Siro in Serie A for 512 days, a sporting eternity. His last goal was in Milan-Salernitana 3-3 on May 25, 2024, the last match with Stefano Pioli on the Rossoneri bench. Now Pioli is in purple, and Rafa, who was always pampered by his former coach, responds with two powerful strikes, leaving his old mentor at the bottom of the table. Leao and Milan soar. Max had called Gimenez from the bench, with Santi ready to come on, but what happens next changes the plans: Fiorentina scores and Allegri responds with two strikers, as La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper reminds us.

After the first penalty, Rafael Leao stays in action and eight minutes after Fiorentina’s lead, he equalizes with a long-range right-foot shot. There is no time for celebration, Milan pushes for the win. Rafa secures it in a new way, with a penalty goal. A deep breath and goal. It is his first successful penalty ever, not only for Milan. It brings his Rossoneri goal count to 73, and it is his first goal from 12 yards. At 26, it is also his first penalty ever: in March 2023 he missed his only attempt with the Portuguese national team. No problem, his national team had scored six against Luxembourg. To find his previous penalty goals, you must go back to youth squads: Rafa scored against Italy with the Under-17s and then Finland with the Under-19s. Among the senior teams, it is his first penalty, although there is a previous Rossoneri moment in the endless sequence against Rio Ave in the 2020-21 Europa League playoffs, which doesn’t count statistically but fans remember: Rafa took the ninth shot and scored.

Leao completes a brace, something he had not done at home since June 2023. A joy that would deserve a shirt removal, he must have thought, but Gabbia steps in to stop him from getting booked. The South Stand erupts and later chants his name, to which a song is dedicated.

Rafael Leao says:

"I dedicate this night to my family and teammates who have always helped me. The team atmosphere is good, we won as a true group. I want to continue like this, individually and collectively. Modric, when he arrived at Milanello, hugged me and said he wanted to help me grow. I hope for many assists from him."

Luka Modric replies:

"Rafa is fantastic, I was waiting to play with him. He is the player we need. An extraordinary talent, for me one of the best in the world, and he can still grow. It depends on him. I hope these goals boost his confidence.”

Rafa tries a sprint at the end, then touches his thigh and calf and asks to be substituted. No alarm, judging by what happens next. Leao hugs friends behind the bench and then runs to the fans, bouncing to the chants, smiling widely.