Leandro Antonetti, The Puerto Rican Striker Closing In on His Best Season in Liga Portugal

De sus raíces puertorriqueñas a destacar ante Benfica y Sporting CP. El atacante de 23 años atraviesa una temporada clave en su carrera europea.

The Puerto Rican forward has scored five goals for Estrela da Amadora and is closing in on his best-ever scoring record as a professional

Leandro Antonetti is making a name for himself in Liga Portugal. The Estrela da Amadora striker has scored five goals during the 2026-27 season, putting him within reach of his best scoring tally as a professional. His performance against Benfica, despite a 3-2 defeat, highlighted his development and ability to compete against some of Portuguese football's biggest clubs.

WHO IS LEANDRO ANTONETTI? THE STRIKER WITH PUERTO RICAN ROOTS

Leandro Antonetti López was born on January 13, 2003, in Murcia, Spain, but has family roots in Puerto Rico. He is the son of Ossie Antonetti, a former soccer player involved in the development of Puerto Rican football.

Although born in Spain, he chose to represent Puerto Rico, making his international debut in June 2022.

He also took his first steps in soccer on the island, playing for Caguas Bairoa and Conquistadores de Guaynabo before continuing his development in Spain.

FROM SPAIN'S LOWER DIVISIONS TO PORTUGAL'S TOP FLIGHT

Antonetti's career began in Puerto Rico's youth soccer system before he moved to Spain, where he joined the CD Lugo setup. He initially played for the club's reserve team, Polvorín, before earning a place in the first team, where he recorded nine goals and four assists during his spell.

In 2024, he signed for Sevilla Atlético, scoring five goals in 30 appearances in Spain's Primera Federación. He also made his first-team debut for Sevilla in LaLiga during the 2024-25 season. He featured in two matches against Espanyol and Las Palmas, accumulating just 27 minutes without scoring.

The difference between his time in Spain and his current situation in Portugal comes down to playing opportunities. In Spain, most of his appearances came in lower divisions, with limited minutes in the top flight. At Estrela da Amadora, he has found greater consistency and a more prominent role in attack.

FIVE GOALS IN PORTUGAL: SPORTING CP AND BENFICA AMONG HIS SCALPS

Antonetti has scored five goals in the 2026-27 Liga Portugal campaign, finding the net against five different opponents:

Sporting CP: Scored in the 72nd minute to help secure a 2-2 draw on Matchday 1.
Alverca: Found the net in the 51st minute in another 2-2 draw.
Nacional: Scored in the 83rd minute of a 3-2 victory.
Famalicão: Converted in the 57th minute of a 2-2 draw.
Benfica: Scored in the 76th minute to make it 2-2, although his team eventually lost 3-2.

As a result, the Puerto Rican forward has already scored against two of Portugal's traditional Big Three clubs: Sporting CP and Benfica. His performance against the Lisbon giants once again showcased his ability to make an impact in high-pressure matches.

In the 2026-27 Liga Portugal season, Antonetti has accumulated 980 minutes (1,056 across all competitions, including the Taça de Portugal) in 11 appearances, recording five goals and one assist. He has started every match, highlighting the consistency and trust he has earned at Estrela da Amadora.

PORTUGAL: WHERE ANTONETTI HAS FOUND HIS BEST FORM

The striker's development is reflected in his numbers. With Sevilla Atlético, he scored five goals in 30 appearances, while his first season at Estrela da Amadora saw him make 12 appearances without finding the net.

Now, with a more prominent role in the Portuguese side, he has already reached five goals in the top flight. His current scoring output puts him within four goals of the nine he recorded during his time at CD Lugo, his best single-season tally as a professional.

At 23, Antonetti has an opportunity to surpass his previous numbers and establish himself in European soccer after finding the regular playing time he lacked in Spain.

ANTONETTI SHINES IN PORTUGAL AND CLOSES IN ON HIS BEST SEASON

FIVE GOALS FOR ESTRELA DA AMADORA: He is just four goals away from matching his best single-season scoring record as a professional, set during his time at CD Lugo.

SCORING AGAINST BENFICA AND SPORTING CP: The Puerto Rican forward made an impact despite the 3-2 defeat against Benfica and has already scored against two of Portugal's biggest clubs.