Leao to miss AC Milan’s Serie A opener with calf injury
LISBON: Rafael Leao will miss AC Milan’s opening league fixture of the season against Cremonese after suffering a calf injury, the Serie A club said on Tuesday.
Milan said that Portugal winger Leao had suffered a “strain to his right calf” during Sunday’s 2-0 Italian Cup win over Bari.
“The player will not be available against Cremonese and will be assessed on a daily basis ahead of the following fixture with Lecce,” Milan added.
Leao left the field against Bari shortly after opening the scoring in the 14th minute at the San Siro.
Milan face Cremonese on Saturday hoping for a better season under new coach Massimiliano Allegri. Last term they finished eighth and missed out on European football.
AC Milan turn to old boy Allegri in hour of need
2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Separately, Argentina’s national team unveiled a revamped 31-man squad on Monday, led by Lionel Messi, for the South American qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador for the 2026 World Cup.
Alongside captain Messi, the squad features several young Argentine talents, including Manchester City striker Claudio Echeverri, Porto midfielder Alan Varela, and recent Real Madrid signing Franco Mastantuono.
Coach Lionel Scaloni also called up striker Jose Manuel Lopez from Brazilian club Palmeiras for the first time.
Argentina squad: Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Walter Benitez and Geronimo Rulli
Defenders: Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Leonardo Balerdi, Juan Foyth, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna, Julio Soler and Facundo Medina
Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Exequiel Palacios, Alan Varela, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada, Nicolas Paz, Rodrigo De Paul, Giovani Lo Celso, and Valentin Carboni
Forwards: Claudio Echeverri, Franco Mastantuono, Giuliano Simeone, Angel Correa, Julián Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez and Jose Manuel Lopez
