Rabiot: the midfielder who scores more than the attackers
In AC Milan’s 2026, the top scorer doesn’t wear a striker’s number, isn’t a wide forward, and isn’t even one of the most high-profile names in the attacking department. It’s Adrien Rabiot, the French midfielder born in 1995, who leads the internal scoring charts with five goals scored in the 2026 calendar year alone, bringing his total to six with the Rossoneri shirt.
A stat that, when you look at it closely, is quite striking. The squad includes players like Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leão, Christopher Nkunku, Niclas Füllkrug, and Santiago Giménez — profiles built and signed to score goals. Yet, in this early stretch of 2026, none of them have managed to outdo the French midfielder. The numbers speak for themselves.
The summer masterstroke: Rabiot and Modrić, a double coup
Looking back at last summer, Milan’s transfer window delivered two operations that are now proving to be among the most inspired: the free transfer of Luka Modrić and the signing of Adrien Rabiot, made possible in part by the Frenchman’s turbulent exit from Marseille. Two moves that reshaped Milan’s midfield and are now paying dividends — technically and financially.
Rabiot, in particular, has proven to be a key element in the balance of the team managed by Massimiliano Allegri. The Livorno-born coach had pushed hard for the Frenchman during negotiations, showing a clear tactical vision: a box-to-box midfielder capable of making runs, finishing, and making the difference when it matters most. The numbers now prove him right.
Saudi interest: Rabiot says no and chooses Milan
The midfielder’s strong performances haven’t gone unnoticed, even beyond European borders. According to reports, several Saudi Pro League clubs have made exploratory inquiries about Rabiot ahead of the summer 2026 transfer window. Significant offers, with top-level wages, that could have represented a genuine temptation.
But the midfielder’s response was clear: no, thank you. Rabiot has no intention of leaving Milan. The Frenchman is settled in the city, has a strong relationship with Allegri, and above all, does not want to leave European — and competitive — football for a league that, however lucrative, cannot match the intensity of Serie A or UEFA competitions.
A deliberate choice: Rabiot wants to keep competing at the highest level, and AC Milan is the ideal stage for him. His stay looks increasingly likely, especially given the probable confirmation of Allegri on the Rossoneri bench next season — a scenario the midfielder would welcome warmly.
A quiet leader who speaks with goals
What makes Rabiot so valuable isn’t just his ability to score — remarkable as that is for a midfielder — but his tactical versatility, physicality, ability to cover ground, and presence both in build-up and in the final third. With him on the pitch, Milan has more options, more unpredictability, more quality in decisive moments.
Five goals in 2026, and the season isn’t over yet. Adrien Rabiot is making Milan his own, one goal at a time.
