Rafael Leao explains red card after Chile friendly

Rafael Leao received a straight red card for striking an opponent in Portugal's friendly against Chile on 6 June 2026. He posted on Instagram that he only wanted to protect a teammate and did not intend to hurt the opponent. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes replied with a one‑word comment “United”.

Leao thanked the Portuguese fans at Jamor for the atmosphere and said they move forward together. The post also noted his interaction with Chile players Guillermo Maripan and Ivan Roman during the match. Comments on the post were limited after criticism from AC Milan supporters.

Leao is expected to receive a one‑game ban, but should avoid suspension for Portugal's 2026 World Cup opening match. The ban will not affect his duties with AC Milan.

Portugal will debut at the 2026 World Cup on 17 June against DR Congo, followed by matches versus Uzbekistan on 23 June and Colombia on 28 June. The team aims to start the tournament without Leao missing the opening game.