
GAFFER HOUSE PARTY
We’ve finally recovered from our first GAFFER house party! We threw it back to the golden era of old-school get-togethers as we took over Soho’s newest spot House Party
In the world of football, where athleticism and strategy intertwine, there exists a rare breed of player who transcends the boundaries of the game, elevating it to an art form. The latest talent who looks born to entertain on the biggest stages of them all is none other than Milan star Rafael Leão.
With each stroke of inspiration, whether it be on the canvas of a football pitch, in the world of fashion, or through his craft in the studio, the multifaceted Leão leaves an unquestionable impression that resonates with his admirers worldwide.
Such players generally go on to be remembered as special for their unmistakable abilities, often acclaimed as natural talents who were destined for nothing less than greatness with a ball at their feet.
Leão is no exception, it is difficult to describe his captivating performances as anything other than artistry in motion. At just 23 years of age, the superstar in the making has his sights firmly set on creating history, and one thing that can be said with certainty is that he doesn’t lack the hunger or ambition required.
2022 proved to be a successful year for the Portuguese international, announcing himself to the global stage as the driving force behind AC Milan’s long-awaited capture of the Scudetto. Recognised for his efforts with the Serie A Player of the Year award, he rounded off the year in style with his World Cup debut, scoring two goals at the tournament.
As his name is starting to become synonymous with creativity and grace on the biggest stages, Leão showcases his artistic prowess beyond the pitch, whether that be in the world of fashion or through his musical exploits as ‘Way 45’.
Despite only being a hobby, Leão credits music with allowing him to express himself and tell his story in a way that is his own. Leading a new wave of players who aren’t afraid to show personality, unapologetically proud to be themselves, he exudes a level of confidence that projects into his performances on the field.
Amora is a noble city, growing up there was a great experience. I come from a neighbourhood called Bairro da Jamaica, which is close to Seixal. Amora is a city that means a lot to me, it gave me many opportunities to grow football-wise. It was there that I took my first steps so I’m grateful for my city and I’ll always bring it with me wherever I go.
Sporting is one of the best academies in the world, if not the best, since it’s trained two Ballon d’Or winners. It’s an honour that fills me with great pride to have come through the ranks there, they opened the doors for me to the footballing world and I’m very grateful for them. It’s definitely a club that I will remember and take with me forever.
100%, Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo. They’re players that I followed and tried to copy when I was growing up. I learned how to do the things I do today, dribbling...by watching Youtube videos of them. They’re both big idols of mine and I’d love to have a career similar to theirs.
It wasn’t easy in the beginning because it was a sudden change and I wasn’t expecting to move to another country so soon, but this was extremely important for my growth and it helped me mature as a player. I grew as a person too because I learned a new language and how to deal with new people in a different environment.
Yes, music is my hobby. It’s my way of expressing myself. I’m not a player that does a lot of interviews and not a lot of people know much about my personal life so music is where I can find myself. It allows me to feel comfortable talking about certain things that I don’t tend to express at a football level. And regarding starting my own label... that was a way for me to help new artists make their dreams come true and take their talent to new heights.
It was during Quarantine. We trained at home and had a lot of downtime, music was something that I had wanted to do for a while so I took advantage of the time I had to try it out and I was very happy with the result. Before releasing it, I showed it to people that are close to me who are also in the music scene and the feedback was positive so I wasn't afraid of the public's reaction.
Way means “caminho” which also translates to path in English and 45 is part of my neighbourhood’s postcode which is 2845. So by putting them together I wanted to show that you should never forget where you come from and that wherever you go, you must always take your origins with you.
I felt an immense amount of pride and also a great sense of responsibility. I also felt nervous because the Milan jersey weighs a lot. It's a club with a lot of history that has won several titles, seven Champions Leagues! So when I had the opportunity to come here I didn't think twice. The first few days and months were exciting times because I never thought I’d get to wear this jersey. It's an honour to be representing it to this day.
Very happy. It was something that our team had been looking forward to for a while. It was the result of a lot of effort and work, It was historic! It was a very special moment for me personally because it was the first championship that I won with Milan and it's a memory that I will cherish for the rest of my career and life.
I can only describe it as an incredible experience. Representing my country is always something special, especially in a competition like the World Cup. It was an amazing experience that I enjoyed to the fullest. I was very proud to be able to represent my country in that competition and hope that I can help us achieve something special in the future.
My dad made me quite ‘vain’ so to speak, because when I was younger he wouldn't let me leave the house poorly dressed. I used to get dressed and look in the mirror to ensure that everything was perfect. My good taste was also thanks to him because he dresses really well. As he is such an important figure in my life, it was definitely through him that I fell in love with fashion and always enjoyed dressing well. So yes, I can tell you that my dad was my inspiration and I hope to one day be a reference in the fashion world as well.
Louis Vuitton... But I don't know what I’d design. That's a good question. As long as I could collaborate with them, it would be great.
Premier League. I think every player wants to play in the Premier League because it's a very competitive league. It has engaging football, great teams and a worldwide audience. Serie A is currently very well positioned in the football world but I would definitely have to say the Premier League in the future.
Football-wise, my goal is to win the Champions League and a Ballon d'Or. As an artist, I personally don't think about it too much, I go with the flow. As an individual, I think about making my label one of the biggest household names in the music world.
We’ve finally recovered from our first GAFFER house party! We threw it back to the golden era of old-school get-togethers as we took over Soho’s newest spot House Party
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50 Cent followed his sell-out show at the O2 with a more intimate performance of some of his greatest hits, celebrating 20 years of <i> Get Rich or Die Tryin’. </i>
Joining him were legends and tour support acts Busta Rhymes and Jeremih who also blessed the stage with some of their biggest hits.
We threw our first ever Halloween party at Windmill, Soho and it wasn't one to be missed. It was big and bold in every way. All our guests came dressed to impress and the energy in the room was infectious.
We took our 'Don't Tell The GAFFER' nights to a whole new level. Our biggest party to date did not miss. GAFFER lit up KOKO and it didn’t matter where you were in the building, the atmosphere was electric from the stage to the balconies.