As a star player on AC Milan&rsquo;s soccer team, Rafael Le&atilde;o has already established himself as one of the greats.

Photography Alan Gelati
Styled by&nbsp;Francesca Cavalcant

Worn by legends like Gianni Rivera, Ruud Gullit, and Clarence Seedorf, AC Milan&rsquo;s number 10 jersey is one of the most coveted in <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/most-handsome-soccer-players-of-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">soccer</a>. Rafael Le&atilde;o, 26, has been wearing it since 2019. Known for his refined technique, incredible speed, and unpredictability on the field, the Portuguese left winger doesn&rsquo;t hesitate when asked to choose his best match to date: Milan vs. Sassuolo in 2022. Milan won its 19th Scudetto, or Serie A championship, after the team scored three goals, all assisted by Le&atilde;o; when he took home the league&rsquo;s MVP award, he was officially named the season&rsquo;s best player.
Born to a father of Angolan origin and a mother from S&atilde;o Tom&eacute;&mdash;&ldquo;an incredible island in the middle of the Gulf of Guinea,&rdquo;&mdash;Le&atilde;o moved from the working-class city of Almada, near Lisbon, to Seixal&rsquo;s struggling Bairro da Jamaica community after his parents separated when he was four years old. &ldquo;I used to spend entire afternoons talking and joking around with friends in the neighborhood Carrefour [super-market] parking lot,&rdquo; he remembers. &ldquo;It was a simple life, like that of many kids my age, I imagine. My parents worked a lot, so being with friends wasn&rsquo;t just a pastime&mdash;it was essential.
A sense of community was instilled in him early on. &ldquo;We weren&rsquo;t rich, but there were many of us, and we shared everything,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;If there was no rice in the house, you just had to go down one floor; you knew that someone would help you.&rdquo; The garden in front of his home, situated between buildings, served as a makeshift soccer field for Le&atilde;o and his friends during his childhood. &ldquo;We played [soccer], but it wasn&rsquo;t my priority,&rdquo; he says. It would become more of a focus once he began attending the youth academy of Sporting Lisbon, where he remained for a decade until he left Portugal for Lille, France, in 2018. One season and eight goals later, he was spotted by Milan. He signed with the team in 2019, at the age of 19.
Off the field, Le&atilde;o also keeps busy. In 2024, he released a book&mdash;his autobiography, Smile&mdash;and launched his own streetwear brand, Son is Son. Music is another creative outlet: He released his first album, Beginning, under the pseudonym WAY 45 in 2021, with seven tracks that flow like a narrative, blending trap, drill, and introspection&mdash;the last of which is a theme throughout all areas of Le&atilde;o&rsquo;s life. Because no matter how far he&rsquo;s come, he&rsquo;s never forgotten his roots.

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L&rsquo;OFFICIEL: In what ways did your upbringing shape your soccer career?
RAFAEL LE&Atilde;O: I was raised in a very tough neighborhood, in a part of Lisbon where many people face serious difficulties. I&rsquo;ve always lived among humble people, but despite everything, there was always a positive energy there. Even in the midst of that reality&mdash;and maybe precisely because I experienced it&mdash;I learned that you can get anywhere.
L&rsquo;O: Has your family always been supportive?
RL: My family was, and still is, fundamental to me. They always stood by me in the most difficult moments, and for that, I will never stop being grateful.

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L&rsquo;O: Do you feel like you&rsquo;ve had to make a lot of sacrifices for the sport?
RL: Yes, of course, but I think that&rsquo;s true for every job. My father and my mother taught me that in order to achieve great things, you have to make equally great sacrifices.
L&rsquo;O: Has your path to success been more about willpower or talent?
RL: At the beginning, talent, obviously. But then you reach a point where talent is no longer enough&mdash;you need something more. It takes a lot of hard work to reach a certain level.&nbsp;
L&rsquo;O: Who&rsquo;s the greatest soccer player you&rsquo;ve played with?
RL: Not just one, but two: Zlatan Ibrahimović and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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L&rsquo;O: What does this Milan jersey mean to you?
RL: I&rsquo;ve always followed Milan, even before joining the team. It&rsquo;s one of the most important clubs in the world, so wearing this jersey is a dream.
L&rsquo;O: You won the championship in Portugal, and then the Italian Super Cup. What does it mean to you to be a true champion?
RL: I couldn&rsquo;t tell you whether I am one or not. I&rsquo;m 26 and in the prime of my career. I know that many kids look up to me as an example, and for me, that&rsquo;s better than calling myself a champion.
L&rsquo;O: What&rsquo;s a typical day like for you?
RL: Nothing complicated. I wake up early, train, eat well. I sleep a lot. A simple life to stay in shape.

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L&rsquo;O: Do you think there&rsquo;s a link between the music you make and the way you play?
RL: Yes. Music expresses the things I&rsquo;ve been through. Football is the joy of living what I&rsquo;ve always dreamed of.
L&rsquo;O: Where did your love of music come from?
RL: From my father and my uncle, who was a DJ. I started seriously at 19, when I was playing in France with Lille. When I played in Portugal, I was close to home&mdash;there, I suddenly found myself alone. And music became good company.

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L&rsquo;O: What do you listen to before a game?
RL: A bit of everything. I look for energy everywhere.
L&rsquo;O: At what age would you like to retire from soccer?
RL: I don&rsquo;t know&mdash;I want to play as long as possible. When I stop, I want to spend as much time as I can with my family and live a peaceful life.

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L&rsquo;O: You became a father to twins in 2024. How has parenthood felt so far?
RL: It&rsquo;s a mix of emotions. I became a father at a good moment in my life. Children are a reason to do more and to value time even more.
L&rsquo;O: If you could meet your childhood self, what would you say to him?
RL: To dream. You can go wherever you want, as long as you work for it. Hold on tight to your parents and never stop believing.

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​​HAIR: Rodrigo de Souza
MAKEUP: Andrea Costa
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Nicola Rucci
STYLING ASSISTANT: Giusi Diella

Rafael Leão Brings Positivity, Passion, And Power To Modern Soccer

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