'This is the Rafa that we need' – Modric lauds Milan match-winner Leao

Luka Modric believes Rafael Leao can be "one of the best players in the world" after his two-goal display led AC Milan to the Serie A summit on Sunday. 

Leao scored twice in Milan's 2-1 victory over Fiorentina, including an 86th-minute penalty, completing a second-half turnaround after Robin Gosens had opened the scoring. 

The Portugal international restored parity with a brilliant curling finish from outside the box just after the hour and stayed cool to slot home the match-winning spot-kick. 

Indeed, Leao's brace was his first two Serie A goals at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in 512 days, last doing so in May 2024 against Salernitana. 

He also ended the contest with a team-high total for touches in the opposition box (six), while only Alexis Saelemaekers (three) completed more dribbles than Leao's one. 

"Rafa is really amazing. I was looking forward to playing with him. Unfortunately, he got injured quickly, but now he's getting back to fitness," Modric told DAZN Italia.

"This is the Rafa that we need. He's an amazing talent, from outside when I used to watch him and now when I train with him, I see he is one of the best players in the world.

"The incredible thing is that he can still improve, it just depends on him.

"I hope these two goals can help him grow his confidence and be the main guy for us. He will be very important, and we will depend a lot on him. He showed why tonight."

Milan are now top of the table for the first time since matchday eight in the 2023-24 campaign, but Modric was not getting carried away. 

"Now we have to take it one game at a time, we are growing, showing character and quality, so we must continue like this," he said.

"There is a long way to go, but we are on the right path, and when some players return from injury, we will be even stronger."

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri was also pleased with the attitude shown by his players, despite his pre-match preparations hampered by several first-team injuries. 

Adrien Rabiot, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christopher Nkunku, Pervis Estupinan and Ardon Jashari were all absent against Fiorentina. 

"I can only say that the team played well," Allegri added.

"Until their goal, I don't think Fiorentina had a single shot, whereas we had a couple of chances with Tomori and Pavlovic from set plays, plus a dangerous Athekame cross. 

"We reacted well to going behind, and the team fought to the end for the victory.

"Besides, I needed to have some options to come off the bench, otherwise I had nobody else.

"After Athekame's yellow card, I called Gimenez, but Fiorentina scored before I could make the change.

"When so many players are missing in the same area, I had to evaluate the course of the 90 minutes. It was important to keep options open."