A family derby. This time with his sons Leonardo and Thiago in the stands for the first time. Fresh from qualifying for the World Cup with Portugal, Rafa Leao will be in Milan today and will resume training at Milanello tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s match against Inter. San Siro will be dominated by Inter colors since Inzaghi’s team plays at home.
The number 10 is in high spirits even though he didn’t score in the games against Ireland and Armenia. His priority was securing the World Cup spot in June and July overseas, and he isn’t concerned that he has scored only once for Portugal since June 2024. For now, he is satisfied with the fast comeback he had with Milan after the right calf injury suffered on August 17 against Bari: four goals and one assist in Serie A helped Allegri secure two wins and three draws despite the absences of Pulisic and Rabiot.
Yesterday Leao was in Portugal, spending a relaxed day with Leonardo and Thiago, born in early November 2024. Today the two children will fly to Italy with him, and he wants to see them in the stands for the derby. He wants his children to watch him play at San Siro. It would give him extra motivation. Rafa is known for his Twitch streams (less frequent now), where he smiles, shares music, and talks about light topics, but he is also a loving father and a player at his peak, facing a crucial season under a coach who can help him improve. Those close to him say he is more meticulous than before, focusing on post-match recovery and injury prevention. Leaving the team alone for forty days at the start of the season was hard, and he wants to ensure it doesn’t happen again. He works on every detail. Playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at the next World Cup is an added incentive. Allegri talks to him like a father during the week and pushes him hard during games. Leao feels ready to take another step up. He wants it fully.
Fatherhood has given Leao an extra edge. At 26, he is ready to make a breakthrough.
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World Cup at his best.
This season leads to the 2026 World Cup, Leao’s second. In Qatar 2022, he was 23 and, despite never starting in the group stage, round of 16, or quarterfinals, he scored twice against Ghana and Switzerland. In America, the story must be different: he wants to be a starter and the only way to earn coach Martinez’s trust and a spot in the starting eleven is to make a difference in Serie A with Milan. While he has always been loyal to the Rossoneri, he now has extra motivation. Against Armenia on Sunday, he enjoyed the celebration for qualification and the 9-1 win. He posed for photos with teammates, listened to the coach’s and Ronaldo’s satisfied speeches. Ronaldo, ready for his sixth World Cup, helped him win his first national team trophy last summer, the Nations League against Spain on penalties. In a few months, he will face the World Cup in the US with Ronaldo at his side. Before that, Milan’s goals await, from qualifying for the next Champions League to the dream of the second star Scudetto, as relayed via those at La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Leao as a center-forward?
Rafa has often been criticized for inconsistency, even within a match, and his defensive phase has been his weakness. With Allegri, some things are improving. Against Roma, for example, he was substituted due to cramps, partly from extra runs without the ball. Max believes he can offer more in goals and leadership. In preseason, Allegri positioned him as center-forward in a 3-5-2, initially only for the Asia-Australia tour. Leao performed well, especially against Liverpool, and with Pulisic returning, he will start as the main striker. He will be allowed to drift left, his favorite position, since playing constantly with his back to goal would limit him. Leao is ready to contribute and take responsibility. Against Fiorentina and Parma, he took and scored both penalties. Even with Pulisic on the field (who missed in Turin against Juventus), Leao may still step up. This is a different Leao, a father-version Leao. Inter has been warned.
