AC Milan's electric left winger — Serie A champion and Portugal's most exciting modern forward.
Rafael Alexandre Conceição Leão was born in Almada, Portugal in 1999. He developed at Sporting CP before Lille signed him and then AC Milan paid £32 million in 2019. His five Milan seasons have produced a Serie A title in 2022 — the club's first in eleven years — and consistent individual excellence. He was named Serie A's best player in the 2021-22 title-winning season. His pace — 0-100 metres in under 10 seconds — combined with left-footed technical quality and the ability to beat full-backs on the outside makes him one of the most dangerous wide forwards in Europe. He represented Portugal under multiple managers and was part of his World Cup 2022 and Euro 2024 squads. His contract renewal negotiations in 2023 generated significant transfer speculation — multiple clubs offering fees exceeding £100 million — before he signed a new long-term deal. He is the most valuable player in AC Milan's squad and Portugal's most exciting forward prospect since Cristiano Ronaldo emerged.
Serie A (2022)
Career Honours
- Serie A (2022)
- Portuguese Super Cup (2021)