How Serie A's most clutch player is keeping Milan in the title race

In a Serie A title race where the smallest of margins are making all the difference, Milan could have already been out of contention but for the goals thus far of Rafael Leao. 

The Rossoneri are currently second in the league table, just three points behind rivals Inter as we head into the second half of the campaign, with many now focusing on the two Milan sides and Napoli as the destination for this year's Scudetto. 

Whereas Inter's frightening attack have helped them go on a recent run of six straight wins, Milan haven't been as cutting for most of the season so far, despite not suffering defeat since the opening day. 

Instead, time and time again, they've had to rely on singular moments to get them out of trouble and prevent dropping further points. And, most of the moments have been courtesy of the league's most clutch player. 

Leao actually started the season on the sidelines, nursing a calf injury that kept him out of the first four games of 2025-26. He played a watching brief as Milan got over their opening day loss to Cremonese and went on to win the next three games, before being eased back into the side with cameos against Napoli and Juventus. 

The Portuguese then made his first start of the season against Fiorentina in October and opened his account for the term with a brace in the 2-1 win, earning his side all three points in the process. 

A week later, he netted in the 2-2 draw with Pisa before setting up the winner for Strahinja Pavlović as Milan put a nail in Roma's title chances. Another goal followed, as he played his part in a 2-2 draw at Parma. However, his point-saving heroics were just getting started, and his next trio of goals have ultimately kept Max Allegri's side in the title race. 

Leao netted the crucial winners against Lazio and Cagliari, either side of the festive season, in two 1-0 wins for the Rossoneri, before his latest and most dramatic bailout in midweek against Genoa. 

Deep into injury time, and with Milan staring at only a second defeat of the season in the face, Leao popped up with a header to equalise and stop his side losing further ground behind their city rivals at the top of the table. 

Seven goals this season, with five of them contributing to ten points for his side, plus an assist that went a long way in securing three more. It means no player in Serie A this season can claim to have secured more points per goal than the forward in what is turning out to be a truly standout campaign.   

They've come in different guises, too, showcasing his long-range ability with his opening goal of the season, while it was his cool head from the spot to notch against Lazio. Then there was the poacher's instinct shown in stoppage time on Thursday night. 

The irony behind Leao's goals this season is that it was his goalscoring output that many criticised in previous seasons. His performances were appreciated, but he failed to even hit double figures in the past two years. 

This season, however, where his displays have arguably not been at the same level as in some other campaigns, the goalscoring has returned and in a way he's become Milan's get-out-of-jail card. Providing those clutch moments just when all seems to be lost. 

In a year that has seen teammate Christian Pulisic lauded and Nico Paz crowned as Serie A's next big thing, few have talked up Leao. But there's no denying that there wouldn't be a title race if it weren't for the 26-year-old, whose impact has arguably been bigger than anyone in Italy's top flight thus far. (C)Getty images

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