Diego Moreira Shines as AC Milan Discover a Rising Star in Serie A

Diego Moreira quickly introduced himself to AC Milan supporters with a stunning performance against Lazio in Serie A. Coming off the bench, the 22-year-old scored twice within two minutes to help Milan recover from a difficult position and secure a 2-2 draw on Saturday night. The impact was particularly impressive considering Moreira only joined the club this summer from Strasbourg in a €50 million deal.

Moreira comes from a footballing family with connections to several countries. Born in Liege, Belgium, he is the son of former footballer Almami Moreira, who was playing for Standard Liege around the time of Diego's birth. His maternal grandfather, Helmut Graf, was a German footballer who also spent part of his career in Belgium. This background gave Moreira eligibility to represent Belgium, Portugal, Guinea-Bissau and Germany at international level.

His development accelerated after moving to Benfica in August 2020, following his earlier time in the Standard Liege academy. Moreira made a major impression in the 2021-22 UEFA Youth League, particularly during Benfica's run to the title. He produced two goals and two assists in a 4-0 quarter-final victory over Sporting CP before contributing two assists in the 6-0 final triumph against RB Salzburg, helping Benfica claim the competition for the first time.

Despite growing up in Portugal and representing the country from under-15 to under-21 level, Moreira eventually chose Belgium at senior international level. FIFA approved the switch in 2025, allowing him to represent the country of his birth. He has since earned four senior caps and was included in Belgium's squad for the 2026 World Cup under coach Rudi Garcia, adding valuable international experience to his growing profile.

Moreira has also shown considerable versatility throughout his career. Originally developed as a left winger, he was occasionally used as a left-back by Liam Rosenior during his time at Strasbourg. His attacking instincts, however, remain one of his greatest strengths, as demonstrated by his extraordinary introduction against Lazio. At 22 years and 37 days, he became the youngest AC Milan player to score twice as a substitute in Serie A since records began in the 2004-05 season, marking another important milestone in what could be a promising career at San Siro.