Rafa Leao, what are you doing? Brawl and expulsion, what happens now ahead of the World Cup

Rafael Leao in trouble: the Milan and Portuguese national team striker was the protagonist of a negative episode during Portugal’s friendly match against Chile, just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off in Canda, the United States and Mexico. The Rossoneri winger was involved in a brawl at the end of the first half of the match against the South Americans, which up to that point was deadlocked at 0-0. After a hard face-off between Faundez and Cancelo, Roman and then Leao himself intervened and came into contact with the South American defender: the Milan forward pushed his opponent several times, even hitting him in the face at one point and causing him to fall to the ground.

Italian referee Zufferli immediately ejected him and Roman: given the egregious gesture, Leao could face disciplinary consequences ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Usually expulsion in a friendly match does not result in disqualification in an official match, but there are important exceptions. In the case of serious violent conduct or a brawl, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee would intervene by reviewing the case: if a sanction of three or more newspapers arrived, it could extend the disqualification to all subsequent matches by the national team.

Disqualification aside, Leao missed a great opportunity to showcase himself ahead of the start of the World Cup, and this header of his could also cost dearly for the national team’s hierarchies.

The episode risks further complicating an already delicate moment for Leao, who is coming off a less than brilliant season with AC Milan. The Portuguese had ended the season with a total of ten goals between Serie A and Coppa Italia, often deployed out of role by Massimiliano Allegri and ended up in the crosshairs of a part of the Rossoneri fans. Leao himself had publicly admitted the difficulties he experienced: “I played injured for 4-5 months with pubalgia, in a position that was not mine, the tactical system did not help me. I felt I could make a difference, but the way the team played did not allow me to do so.”

The World Cup represents an opportunity for Leao to relaunch himself in a big way, and put himself in the shop window in view of the market. The class of 1999 has already declared his willingness to leave AC Milan at the end of the season, with the Premier League in his sights: “I need new challenges, I have already won two trophies in Italy and have been there for a while, for my soccer the Premier or La Liga would enhance my talent more.”