RafaelLeão

Rafael Alexandre da Conceição Leão was born in Almada to Angolan parents on 10 June 1999. Rafa developed at Sporting CP, with whom he quickly made his first-team debut at both domestic and international level: in October 2017 his first minutes in the Portuguese Cup (scoring on debut), in February 2018 his debut in the Primeira Liga and in the Europa League. He moved to LOSC Lille in the summer of 2018 and in a single season totalled 26 appearances and 8 goals, earning a call from AC Milan after taking part in the Under-20 World Cup with Portugal.

In his first two seasons in Rossonero colours he gradually earned space in the attacking hierarchy, especially as a left-sided forward, and on 20 December 2020 he entered Italian football history by scoring, against Sassuolo, the fastest goal ever in the top five European leagues after just 6.76 seconds. It was in 2021/22 that the definitive breakthrough came: an extraordinary season at the end of which he was named MVP of Serie A, the season of the 19th Scudetto. Things came in threes: in 2022/23 Rafa rewrote his personal records with 16 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances. Also memorable was his huge contribution to the Supercoppa Italiana 2025 win in Riyadh, with the assist for Abraham's decisive goal against Inter. By June 2026 he had 80 goals in 291 matches for a player who has written his name into the history of our Club.

His performances with AC Milan also earned him his senior national-team debut - after reaching the Under-21 European Championship Final - in a friendly against Qatar on 9 October 2021. His steady growth allowed him to be part of the squad at the 2022 World Cup, where he scored - in the group stage against Ghana and in the Round of 16 against Switzerland - his first two goals for Portugal. With the Lusitanos his achievements also include winning the 2024/25 Nations League and taking part in Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup, in which he scored against Uzbekistan.