| Age | 26 years |
| Date of Birth | June 10, 1999 |
| Height, Weight | 188 cm, 81 kg |
| Place of Birth | Almada, Portugal |
| Citizenship | Portugal |
| Position | Left winger - forward |
| Club | AC Milan |
| Number | 10 |
| In team since | 2019 |
| Contract until | 2028 |
| Contract extension | extended in 2023 |
| Market value | ~90–110 million euros |
| Eye color | dark |
| Preferred foot | right |
Biography of Rafael Leão
Rafael Alexandre da Conceição Leão was born on June 10, 1999 in Almada and is a graduate of Sporting CP academy. He progressed through all levels of the club's system and made his first-team debut in 2018, quickly establishing himself as a talented attacking player.
In 2018, a key episode occurred — after fans attacked Sporting’s training base, Leão terminated his contract unilaterally. After that, he moved to Lille, where he spent one season and scored 8 goals, attracting the attention of top clubs.
In 2019, AC Milan signed him for 35 million euros. The first seasons were a period of adaptation, but he gradually became a team leader.
The 2021–22 season became a breakthrough — Leão won Serie A and was named the league’s best player.
He became a key player for AC Milan:
- leader in dribbling and chance creation
- main creative force in attack
- regularly reaches double digits in goals and assists
In 2023, he received the legendary number 10 and firmly established himself as the club’s star.
Personal life of Rafael Leão
Rafael Leão was born into a family with African roots — his father is from Angola, and his mother is from São Tomé and Príncipe.
He is also known outside football as a musician — releasing tracks under the pseudonym WAY 45.
He is fluent in several languages:
- Portuguese
- English
- Italian
- French
In 2024, he released an autobiography titled "Smile".
Interesting facts about Rafael Leão
- One of the fastest players in Europe
- Set a Serie A record — goal after 6 seconds
- Serie A MVP 2021–22
- Often compared to Mbappé and Henry
- One of the best dribblers in Europe
- Can play as a winger and center forward
- Releases music as a rapper
- One of the most creative players at AC Milan
Rafael Leão Statistics
Overall club statistics
| Club | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Sporting B | 12 | 7 |
| Sporting | 3 | 1 |
| Lille | 24 | 8 |
| AC Milan | 220 | 64 |
| Total | 259 | 80 |
Detailed club statistics
| Club | All competitions | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Lille | 26 | 26 | 8 |
| AC Milan | 284 | 284 | 80 |
Season statistics (key)
| Season | Club | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Lille | 26 | 8 |
| 2019–20 | AC Milan | 33 | 6 |
| 2020–21 | AC Milan | 40 | 7 |
| 2021–22 | AC Milan | 42 | 14 |
| 2022–23 | AC Milan | 48 | 16 |
| 2023–24 | AC Milan | 47 | 15 |
| 2024–25 | AC Milan | 50 | 12 |
| 2025–26 | AC Milan | 24 | 10 |
Portugal national team statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 43 |
| Goals | 5 |
Goals for national team
| No. | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghana | World Cup |
| 2 | Switzerland | World Cup |
| 3 | Luxembourg | Euro qualifiers |
| 4 | Sweden | Friendly |
| 5 | Poland | Nations League |
Controversies involving Rafael Leão
The main controversy in Rafael Leão’s career is related to his departure from Sporting. In 2018, after fans attacked the training base, he terminated his contract unilaterally, which led to legal proceedings.
In 2020, the court ordered him to pay approximately 16.5 million euros in compensation to the club.
There were also isolated on-field incidents — including a red card for dangerous play in 2022, but no serious disciplinary issues beyond that.
