LUKA MODRIC CALLS RAFAEL LEAO ELITE PLAYER, POTENTIAL YET TO PEAK
Rafael Leao's brace, including a decisive penalty, seals a comeback win for Milan against Fiorentina. The Portuguese star, in a new centre-forward role, earns high praise from teammate Luka Modric after a difficult start to the season.
Luka Modric cautions that his AC Milan teammate "is one of the finest in the world and can still grow," but Rafael Leao believes the "team emerged" after breaking the impasse to turn Fiorentina around.
Playing in an odd centre-forward role, this was the Portugal international's first Serie A start of the season after he struggled since suffering a calf ailment in early August.
At San Siro, Robin Gosens had given the Viola the lead, but Leao scored from a distance and then converted the game-winning penalty following a VAR review of Fabiano Parisi's tug on Santiago Gimenez.
It was noteworthy that, despite Leao's poor penalty-scoring record, it was his first time wearing the Milan jersey.
Leao saves the day for AC Milan.
Even though Fiorentina is struggling, Leao said DAZN Italia, "We knew this would be a difficult match since they have quality players like Moise Kean who can hurt us."
It was challenging, and we did not create many opportunities, but as soon as we broke the impasse, the team came out on top.
"Modric hugged me and said he wanted to help me when he got to Milan. Playing with him is fantastic, and I hope he can provide me with a lot of assists.
When celebrating the penalty, there was an odd moment when Leao attempted to remove his shirt but was stopped by Matteo Gabbia, who saved him from receiving a yellow card.
"I dedicate my objective to my teammates and family, who have supported me and helped me stay positive in the locker room. We can accomplish big things this season if we keep going in this direction, both individually and collectively," Leao continued.
With the win, Milan has taken advantage of Napoli, Roma, and Juventus' losses this weekend to take the lead in Serie A with 16 points.
It is especially noteworthy in light of the severe injury problem that has prevented Christian Pulisic, Christopher Nkunku, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Adrien Rabiot, Pervis Estupinan, and Ardon Jashari from playing.
"Rafa is very incredible. I was excited to play with him; sadly, he had an injury very quickly, but he is currently recovering. "We need this, Rafa," Modric said to DAZN Italia.
He has a tremendous talent; I used to watch him play from a distance, and now that I work out with him, I can tell he is among the world's top players. The amazing thing is that, with enough effort, he can still get better. We will rely heavily on him; therefore, I hope that these two objectives will help him gain confidence and become our main man. Tonight, he demonstrated why.
For the first time since Week 8 of the 2023–24 season, Milan is now leading the table.
We must now focus on each game as it comes because we are developing and have demonstrated our character and quality. Even though we still have a ways to go, we are headed in the right direction and will be even more formidable when some players return from injury.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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