Soccer
Rafael Leao. Copyright: Imago
Portugal and AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has been named as a role model by Wycombe Wanderers winger Micah Olabiyi, who is on the radar of the Super Eagles and of England’s Three Lions, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 16-year-old had the experience of a lifetime when he was invited to the Nigerian National team setup by Eric Chelle during the 2026 Unity Cup campaign, which Nigeria eventually won.
Olabiyi admitted that the experience is one that planted the seed of potentially playing for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in his heart, although he was very careful not to make any commitments.
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“I can’t even put into words how proud my family and I were,” the teenager said in an interview with Flashscore.
“My mum literally started crying, and my dad just kept shaking his head with this huge smile, saying, ‘Do you realise what this means?”
“It was emotional because Nigeria isn’t just a flag for us, it’s our heritage, it’s family, it’s the culture we grew up with at home. The food, the music, the values, it’s all part of who I am.
Soccer Micah Olabiyi names Rafael Leao as his role model
Typically a right-winger, the former Crystal Palace player reveals he tries to take on the playing style of highly-rated AC Milan winger Leao.
“If I had to pick one, it’d be Rafael Leao. I love how effortless he makes everything look, his pace, his dribbling, and that ability to glide past defenders like they’re not even there. But what I admire most is his composure in front of goal.
“He’s so calm and clinical, whether he’s cutting in from the left or running in behind. I also respect how he’s grown into a leader at Milan, taking responsibility in big games.
“I try to watch his movement off the ball especially how he finds space between defenders and times his runs.
“If I can bring even half of that unpredictability and confidence to my game, I’ll be happy,” the 16-year-old concluded.
Rafael Leao, meanwhile, marked his name on the World Cup stage in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan after he was bashed for his poor performance in the first game against DR Congo.
He came off the bench to score the game’s fifth goal after a cross was blocked out by Uzbekistan’s defence.
He got his first red card and most of y’all wrote him off as if he wasn’t tryna defend his country men🇵🇹.
Rafael Leao didn’t waste time to score after he was sub on, this is the player we should break the bank for !!! pic.twitter.com/jUE0pwpgCP
— Rexx (@Trafordtimes) June 24, 2026
Quizzed about what Cristiano Ronaldo told him in the heat of the moment, the former Sporting Lisbon attacker said:
“Why did I shoot instead of passing to Cristiano Ronaldo? Because he kept shouting, ‘Shoot, shoot!!’” Leao said, per Sports Yahoo.
“He always wants the whole team to score. That’s Cristiano for you. That’s why I tried to shoot.”
The 27-year-old was unable to feature in Nigeria’s friendly game against Portugal on June 10th, because he was sent off in the clash against Chile a few days prior.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual CAF-Accredited sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
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