Laid-back Leão: Could he be the next Balotelli?

Iti911

In the world of football, many players show extraordinary talent at a young age, attracting the attention of top clubs and eventually becoming superstars, such as Messi and Ronaldo. However, there are also those who squander their potential, playing their strong hands poorly, like Balotelli, and perhaps the player we are discussing today, Leão.

Leão came through the youth system of Portuguese powerhouse Sporting Lisbon, and after a brief stint with his former club, he was quickly recruited by the French top-tier team Lille. A year later, he was noticed by AC Milan, and since then, Leão has been playing for the Rossoneri, helping the team win the Serie A title in 2022. During this time, Leão displayed lightning-fast explosiveness, excellent agility and ball control, and enviable physical attributes, making him one of the most entertaining wingers in Serie A. While he became a strong scoring option for Milan, Leão also had his drawbacks, including inconsistent form, lack of aggressiveness in the box, and poor finishing ability. In other words, Leão often appeared lazy on the field, and there were moments of mental lapses.

Every time you watch Leão play, you'll applaud and cheer for his brilliant dribbling skills, but most of the time, you'll end up cursing him after he misses a shot. It's like flipping a coin—sometimes brilliant, sometimes frustrating.

As seen in the recent UEFA Champions League matches, after a series of fantastic dribbles, Leão found himself with open chances in front of the goal, only to trip over his own feet during the crucial moment. Teammates provided him with several golden opportunities, but Leão squandered them with wayward shots. If he had capitalized on just one of these opportunities, Milan would not have settled for a draw against the newly-promoted European side.

Of course, not seizing opportunities can be attributed to both ability and attitude. When you don't run or fight for the ball during matches, it becomes an attitude problem.

In front of the opponent's goal, Balotelli learned to reflect on life, while Leão seems to take leisurely strolls. Every time a teammate attacks, Leão appears to be a mere spectator, not actively making runs to seek opportunities. Moreover, when the opponent attacks, Leão doesn't show enthusiasm in tracking back. I don't think this is a privilege granted to him by Pioli. Even Messi, wearing the number 10 shirt, sometimes engages in defensive duties in his own penalty area.

Like Balotelli, who also has African heritage, Leão is not a player who follows the rules. Perhaps, deep down, they both view football as a game of personal performance rather than a disciplined team sport. I believe this could be a key reason hindering Balotelli and Leão from becoming true superstars.

Jafar224

Everyone still has their own unique qualities.