AC Milan’s season has been anything but smooth sailing. Once expected to challenge for the Scudetto, they now find themselves drifting in seventh place, struggling to secure European football for next season.
A lack of cutting edge in front of goal has been their Achilles’ heel, with just 36 goals scored so far—a worrying stat for a team of their stature and their ambitions.
At the heart of their attacking struggles seems to be Rafael Leao. The Portuguese winger, once Milan’s main spark, has delivered only nine goals in 35 appearances this season. His flashes of brilliance have been far too sporadic, leaving fans frustrated as Milan searches for answers.
However, Leao still found a way to make an impact in their recent clash against Hellas Verona, assisting Santiago Gimenez’s goal, the only goal in the game in the 75th minute.
But the conversation on X after the game wasn’t about his assist or Milan’s narrow victory—it was about the unexpected sight of a bruise on his face.
Close-up shots during the game revealed clear discoloration and slight swelling around Leao’s eye, which left fans wondering if it’s something they’d never noticed about their fan favourite.
Was it a training ground injury? A knock from a past game that had just worsened? The speculation ran wild until Twitter detectives pieced together the real story—his bruised eye was a direct result of Milan’s midweek Champions League clash against Feyenoord.
During Milan’s 1-0 defeat in Rotterdam, Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther had an eventful night—though not just for his shot-stopping alone.
In the 25th minute, Joao Felix accidentally kneed the German goalkeeper in the head while trying to reach a loose ball.
Fifteen minutes later, it was Leao who found himself in the wars. The Portuguese star surged into the box, challenging for a ball when he collided directly with Wellenreuther. The two clashed heads, sending Leao to the ground. Despite the heavy impact, the referee waved play on, not issuing any cautions. At full-time, some fans noticed faint bruising, but it wasn’t until the Verona game that it became truly visible.
While Milan managed to grind out a win against Verona, Leao’s display against Feyenoord raised concerns. His dribbles and finishing touch lacked the usual confidence, with his decision-making slightly off as well. Leao was subbed off in minute 83, with Conceicao hoping for fresh legs.
This led one fan to believe that the poor performance against Feyenoord was a result of the black eye the Portuguese received in the early moments of the game.
“I can’t even remember Leao was hit in the eye and played the whole game after that?? Seeing the bruise that should’ve impacted him a lot,” said the user on X.
Another fan added his perspective on the incident, “Yeah bro the keeper basically punched him in the face during that run through on goal. You could see it already at full time.”
