26-year-old Portuguese and AC Milan forward, Rafael Leao is currently worth €85 million according to transfer market reports as of November 2022. Leao rose through the youth ranks of Sporting CP, and his value continued to appreciate following his €35 million move from Ligue 1 club, Lille to the Italian Seria A side AC Milan in the Summer of 2019.
Born to parents of African origin, the Portuguese striker has been compared to French player and former player, Kylian Mbapper and Thiery Henry, respectively. He represented Portugal at various youth levels before he was invited to the senior national team in October 2021.
Rafael Leao Is Currently Valued At €85 Million
As captured, Rafael Leao’s value in the transfer market is currently evaluated at €85 million. The sudden shoot in his value comes from the kind of impact the Portuguese forward has on the pitch and his contributions to Sporting CP, Lille, and AC Milan in particular.
During his time at Sporting CP, his highest value was €6 million. By the time he joined the French club, Lille in 2018, the value went up to €15 million before his €35 million move to AC Milan in Italy in August 2019.
Since the move to Italy, Leao has been in incredible form, helping the club to clinch the 2021/22 Seria A title. While he was contributing to the club, his value was also on the increase, and by June 2022, he was worth €70 million.
As a result of his spectacular rise and the fact that his contract with AC Milan is billed to expire in the summer of 2024, and he has not shown any sign of signing a new deal, there is renewed interest from the Spanish club, Real Madrid who are looking to boost their attacking options.
Biography And Family Background Of Rafael Leao
Rafael Leao was born Rafael Alexandre de Conceicao Leao on June 10, 1990, in Almada, Portugal to parents who originated from two Central African countries. His father is from Angola while his mother is from the Sao-Tomé-Et-Principe.
The 26-year-old is one of his parents’ six children. Some of his siblings are Paulo, Bianca, and Nadia.
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Interesting Facts About Rafael Leao
1. Leao’s Football Journey Began At A Tender Age
While growing up in Almada, football was an everyday thing for Leao. On some days, he plays it and even forgets to eat his lunch, and only comes home at dinner time. His passion for the game of soccer took over his love for school, and he sometimes leave class to go for training.
By the time he was about 7 or 8, he joined Amora. When he turned 9, Leao signed for Sporting CP’s academy where his skills and talents were not only sharpened but he went on to play for the club’s first team.
In August 2018 when he was 19, the Almada native moved to Ligue 1 club, Lille on a free transfer. The following year, he joined AC Milan on a five-year contract for a fee of €35 million, including a 20 percent sell-on clause.
2. He Was Called To Portugal National Team At 22
Having impressed at the club level, Leao was invited to Portugal’s national team in October 2021, which was almost four months after his 22nd birthday. He debuted for the country in a 3-0 friendly win over Qatar, coming as a replacement for Christiano Ronaldo. Additionally, he was listed in Portugal’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup as a forward alongside Christiano Ronaldo, Andre Silva, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, and Ricardo Horta.
Prior, the Almada-born represented various youth teams; from the under-16 to under-21. He participated in various tournaments, including the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, and the 2021 URFA European Under-21 Championship.
3. The Almada-born Wants To Take Up Music After Football
Rafael Leao loves rapping and he intends to do it full-time when he retires from football. At the moment, he has released a 7-track rap album titled, Beginning, which includes Ballin, Paginas, Big Bodies, and Broke N Down.
4. How Rich Is The Portuguese Forward?
The former Lille forward is earning a fortune from his 9 years old professional career. In addition to his football earnings, Leao also makes money through endorsement deals. Currently, he has a deal with the German sportswear brand, Adidas.
Although Rafael Leao’s net worth is yet to be evaluated at the time of this writing, various sources indicated it could be around $1.5 million.
5. He Is Quite Tall
Leao is 6 feet 2 inches (1.88m) tall. As a forward, his height is of extreme advantage as it gives him an edge over short defenders in the opposition goal area. He can easily win balls that come from set pieces.
Moreover, his body weighs 81kg (178 lbs).
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