Rafael Leão on AC Milan, CR7 & Portugal, Diogo Jota, Music & Zlatan (Soccer 2/20)

Anita Jones sits down with Portugal and AC Milan star Rafael Leão for a candid conversation about pressure, progression, and life beyond the pitch.

Leão reflects on his humble beginnings on the outskirts of Lisbon, being ghosted by Benfica before landing at Sporting CP, and handling early comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo - the kind of “good pressure,” he says, that shaped his mentality. He also opens up about his relationship with streamer IShowSpeed, his respect for the rise of content creators in football, and why he embraces connecting the game to a new generation of fans.

At AC Milan, Leão discusses managing expectations at one of Europe’s biggest clubs, adapting to a new role, and why “football now is about numbers.” He looks back on winning the Scudetto and being named Serie A MVP, the live-or-die intensity of the Milan derby, and how Zlatan Ibrahimović’s relentless competitiveness pushed him to another level. He also breaks down his growing on-field chemistry with Christian Pulisic.

With Portugal, Leão explains why he believes Roberto Martínez is the right man to lead the national team, recalls the “crazy aura” of meeting Ronaldo for the first time, and speaks emotionally about the passing of Diogo Jota - “every game we think about him.” Off the field, he shares how becoming a father at a young age changed everything.

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