Rafael Leao hasn’t had the World Cup he wanted. Not yet anyway. Portugal’s star winger started both the tournament opener against RD Congo and tonight’s demolition of Uzbekistan on the bench. Then came the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, and Leao finally got his moment — a first-time rocket into the roof of the net that closed out the rout. He didn’t hide what that goal meant.
“I have to celebrate this with my family, because it has been a difficult season for me,” Leao told DAZN Italia after the match. “I had injuries and many other things in the mix, including the way Milan’s season went. I have to thank my family, who helped me through it, and this goal is for them.”
A season of frustration at Milan
Leao’s relationship with AC Milan has been strained all year. Most of that tension came under former manager Max Allegri, who used Leao out of position as a center-forward and subbed him off early in multiple games. Leao was openly furious about it. By the end of the season, he’d said publicly that his time with the Rossoneri felt like it was reaching a natural conclusion.
But then Allegri was fired and replaced by Ruben Amorim — a Portuguese coach with a reputation for getting the best out of attacking players. That changes the math, or at least it should. Leao acknowledged as much, but he’s not rushing to make a call.
“At this moment, I need to stay focused on the World Cup,” Leao said. “What I do know is that this is a very good coach. He did well in Portugal, it didn’t go the way he wanted at Manchester United, but he remains a great coach. I will make a decision after the World Cup.”
Fighting back against the criticism
Leao has taken heat from pundits and fans for his defensive effort — or lack of it. The knock is he doesn’t track back, doesn’t help enough on the other side of the ball. He pushed back on that narrative after the game.
“I have to do this for myself, not for anyone else. I work for myself, my teammates and my coach. I’m happy that I was able to help my team, to have minutes on the pitch, it was important.”
The subtext here is impossible to ignore. Portugal has maybe the deepest talent pool in the tournament right now. Leao knows that pouting his way through things won’t earn him a starting spot. And with Amorim waiting back in Milan, the calculus gets more complicated. A coach who speaks his language, who values flair, who coached him at the national team level before. That could be the thing that keeps him at San Siro.
Or not. Leao has suitors across Europe. Premier League clubs have been circling for at least two transfer windows. The smart money says this World Cup run will determine more than just Portugal’s next opponent. Leao’s entire trajectory might hinge on the next few weeks.
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