Following a magnificent 2022, Rafa Leao picked up from where he left off as he became the first player to score a Serie A goal in 2023, finding the opener just 10 minutes into Milan‘s game against Salernitana.
The Portuguese star made the most of Sandro Tonali’s assist to calmly round off goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and put the Rossoneri ahead.
According to Opta, Leao has scored the first Milan goal of the year for the third consecutive season.
Back in 2021 and 2022, Leao had found the net against Benevento and Roma respectively, but it’s been 21 years since a Rossoneri player was able to score the first Serie A goal in a calendar year, José Mari being the last to do so in 2002.