Rafael Leão
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One-game ban expected
Leao is expected to serve a one-game suspension for the friendly against Nigeria after being sent off in the first half of Portugal's friendly against Chile following a confrontation, putting him on track to be available for Portugal's World Cup opener against Congo on June 17, according to Record.
Analysis: Leao ended the Serie A season with nine goals and three assists across 29 appearances for AC Milan as the club's top scorer in the league, and Portugal will be relieved to have their most dangerous wide attacker available from the very first fixture of the tournament. FIFA is expected to follow the same approach applied to Curacao's Jurgen Locadia last week, limiting the punishment to a single match rather than the standard two-game ban for a straight red card.
Explosive threat on left wing
Leao has been named in Portugal's World Cup squad and is expected to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable attacking options at manager Martinez's disposal throughout the competition.
Analysis: Leao made 29 Serie A appearances this season for AC Milan, scoring nine goals, providing three assists and finishing as the club's top scorer in the league in a campaign that demonstrated his ability to be decisive when it matters most despite a stop-start season at club level. The winger brings blistering pace, technical flair and an increasingly reliable end product on Portugal's left flank, and his ability to cut inside or drive to the byline makes him one of the most versatile and dangerous attackers in the competition. Leao heads into the World Cup eager to prove on the biggest stage that he belongs among the elite attackers of his generation.
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