Leao's Calf Setback Forces Portugal Duty to Pause; Milan Plans Rehab Roadmap

Leao’s Portugal Camp Withdrawal

Portugal's star Rafael Leao has been withdrawn from the national squad and will not feature in the World Cup qualifier against Hungary. The decision follows his substitution against the Republic of Ireland and concerns over his current fitness.

The Portuguese federation stated that Leao was pulled from the squad by manager Roberto Martinez after evaluating his physical condition post-match.

The official note explains that Leao is sidelined by a calf muscle injury sustained during Milan's 2-0 Italian Cup win over Bari in August, an injury that has kept him from starting for either club or country since the season began.

The federation quoted Gianluca Di Marzio, the well-known journalist from Sky Sports Italy, mentioning that the 26-year-old will return to Milan to continue a rehabilitation program following his departure from the national team camp.

Martinez had called Leao up despite not being 100% certain of his readiness. Leao is set to begin individual training on Monday, while the rest of Milan’s players (excluding internationals) enjoy an extended break of about three days.

Return to Milan and FIFA Day Ripples

Reports indicate Leao aims to rejoin Milan in time for the upcoming Serie A clash with Fiorentina on Sunday, continuing his rehabilitation program.

Meanwhile, FIFA-day scheduling raises concerns for Milan, as several players may be pulled by their national teams, risking further injuries.

Alexis Saelemaekers was hurt while on Belgium duty against North Macedonia and returned to Milan for further medical checks, with a looming possibility of missing Milan's next league match vs Fiorentina. La Gazzetta dello Sport suggested the Belgian could be out for up to a month, though Milan has not yet issued an official diagnosis.

Left-back Pervis Estupiñán and a former Brighton player exited a friendly with the United States, yet he is expected to stay with Ecuador and potentially be fit for Milan’s next fixture. He could feature for Milan against Fiorentina after recovery.

Christian Pulisic, Milan's key scorer, came on as a substitute against Ecuador due to ankle swelling. US coach Mauricio Pochettino noted the swelling predated the match, but hopes Pulisic can start against Australia midweek. Milan remains confident the American will be fit for the Fiorentina game at the weekend.

Triple Threat Numbers

This season, Pulisic has been a regular for Milan, contributing in six Serie A appearances with six goal involvements (four goals, two assists) in 324 minutes. He also played two Coppa Italia matches (95 minutes) with two goals. Saelemaekers, despite not scoring yet, has started eight matches, recording one goal and two assists. Estupiñán, who joined Milan last summer, has six appearances with one assist, debuting with an assist against Cremonese.

The Rossoneri began the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Bari in the Cup, followed by a 1-2 league loss to Cremonese. They then posted a four-game winning run, including Lecce (2-0), Bologna (1-0), Udinese (3-0) and Napoli (2-1), before a goalless draw with Juventus. Milan have tallied nine goals in Serie A so far, eight from open play and one from a set-piece.

Punchlines

Punchline 1: Even athletes need a calendar to calendar their naps—fitness, rehab, and a résumé of excuses, all under one cal(leg)arful plan.

Punchline 2: If Leao’s calf had a social media, it would have more followers than his injury report—aka the most dramatic accessory in football.