Rafael Leao scored late in Portugal's 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, then confirmed that AC Milan must wait for clarity on his future. The forward said any decision on a transfer or contract will only follow Portugal's World Cup campaign, despite earlier plans to seek a move after the 2025-26 season.
Leao had previously expressed a wish to leave AC Milan for a fresh challenge after an underwhelming club year. However, the appointment of Ruben Amorim as Massimiliano Allegri's replacement has prompted Leao to reassess options, with the Portugal World Cup schedule now taking clear priority for the 27-year-old attacker.
Leao joined AC Milan from Lille in 2019 and has claimed two major trophies, including the Scudetto in 2021-22. Recent form has dipped though,
with last season bringing only 13 goal contributions in 31 matches in all competitions, as Milan failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Across seven years at the club, Leao's overall record in Italy remains strong despite the dip. Among Serie A players in that period, only Dusan Vlahovic, Ciro Immobile, Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez have had more combined goals and assists in all competitions than Leao's total of 135 involvements.
Allegri's dismissal followed Milan's missed Champions League qualification, and former Manchester United manager Amorim has since taken charge. Leao suggested Amorim's arrival could influence the final call on staying or leaving, yet underlined that national team duties and the World Cup must remain the current focus.
"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 didnt go the way he wanted at Manchester United, but he remains a great coach. I will make a decision after the World Cup. "
Portugal's win over Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium featured two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and a free-kick from Nuno Mendes. An Abduvokhid Nematov own goal added further damage before Leao struck three minutes from time, finishing calmly to complete the 5-0 scoreline for Roberto Martinez's side.
That goal continued Leao's productive impact from the bench on the global stage. The forward has now scored three of Portugal's eight World Cup goals by substitutes, which represents 37.5% of that tally, underlining a consistent influence despite limited minutes during tournament football.
Leao admitted that this international success felt significant after a testing domestic campaign with injuries and Milan's struggles. The forward highlighted support from close circles and staff, and dedicated the Uzbekistan goal to relatives while stressing the competition for attacking places in Portugal's squad under Martinez.
"I have to celebrate this with my family, because it has been a difficult season for me," Leao added. "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. I put in so much work with my personal trainer, my team-mates, and I have to thank the coach for having faith in me, because Portugal have so many talented players, so I'm very happy to be here. "
For now, Leao's situation balances between a strong overall record at AC Milan, a challenging recent season, and renewed confidence with Portugal at the World Cup. The forward has made clear that Ruben Amorim's presence will be weighed, but any final decision on Milan will only come once the tournament ends.
