AC Milan 2021/22 season review: Top scorers, assists & player of the year

For the first time in 11 years, AC Milan are Serie A champions.

Stefano Pioli's side have risen back to the top of the standings, wrestling control away from Inter and restoring the feel-good factor in the red half of Milan.

The 2021/22 campaign was full of memorable moments and spectacular performances for the Rossoneri, whose fans won't forget the season any time soon.

Here's a review of Milan's title-winning year.

AC Milan 2021/22 player of the season

Rafael Leao

This one isn't hard. Rafael Leao was sensational and among the finest players in Italian football this past year.

Now permanently a left winger, Leao looked to be relishing the extra space that comes with playing out wide as he terrorised opponents all across Italy en route to racking up 14 goals and 12 assists in all competitions - numbers which don't even tell the whole story.

Real Madrid are rumoured to be interested in the 22-year-old but Paolo Maldini has already pointed Los Blancos to his €150m release clause if they really want to get a deal done.

Honourable mentions: Mike Maignan, Olivier Giroud, Fikayo Tomori

AC Milan 2021/22 goal of the season

Theo Hernandez vs Atalanta

Theo Hernandez is probably the best full-back in Italy, and goals like this one against Atalanta only add to that reputation.

Picking up the ball on the edge of his own box, the Frenchman went into overdrive as he ran the entire length of the pitch, burning past four Atalanta players before flashing the composure of a striker to net in the bottom corner.

As Theo gets into the box, you can see the moment that team-mate Ante Rebic decides he should just get out of the left-back's way and let him do his thing. Smart move.

Honourable mentions: Sandro Tonali vs Lazio, Olivier Giroud vs Inter, Pierre Kalulu vs Empoli

AC Milan 2021/22 performance of the season

Lazio 1-2 AC Milan

Ciro Immobile put Lazio 1-0 up after just four minutes in late April, but all that goal seemed to do was anger Milan.

Pioli's men were rampant after that, controlling 53% of the possession and putting up 25 shots compared to Lazio's seven. Olivier Giroud levelled the scoreline after the break but the fun was still to come.

With 92 minutes on the clock, up popped Sandro Tonali to fire home and hand Milan three points which they had rightfully earned.

Honourable mentions: Atletico 0-1 AC Milan, AC Milan 3-1 Roma, Inter 1-2 AC Milan, AC Milan 4-0 Lazio

AC Milan 2021/22 signing of the season

Mike Maignan

Losing Gianluigi Donnarumma, for free no less, would hurt any team on the planet, but signing Mike Maignan for around €15m was about the best response that Milan could have managed.

The former Lille stopper was absolutely sensational in between the posts (to nobody's surprise). He conceded just 21 goals in 32 Serie A outings, recording 17 clean sheets for good measure.

Maignan even bagged the assist for Leao's winner against Sampdoria in February, doing everything he could to will his side to glory.

Honourable mention: Olivier Giroud

AC Milan 2021/22 most improved player

Pierre Kalulu

Leao is an obvious winner for this category, but 90min have decided to put the spotlight on young defender Pierre Kalulu instead.

The 21-year-old didn't begin the season as a starter but ended it as one of the first names on the team sheet, starting Milan's final 11 games of the season and not tasting defeat in any of them as the Rossoneri went on to snatch the title from Inter on the final day of the season.

With Alessio Romagnoli's contract just weeks away from expiring, Milan need not worry about the future of their defence.

Honourable mentions: Sandro Tonali

AC Milan 2021/22 disappointment of the season

Brahim Diaz

While there were plenty of superstar performers this season, there were also a number of let-downs in the Milan dressing room. Chief among them was Brahim Diaz.

The Real Madrid loanee, who still has another year remaining on his loan contract, played 40 games in all competitions and recorded just four goals and four assists - all of which came before the second week of December.

Brahim ended the season on a run of 24 games (17 starts) without contributing to a goal, which was a massive step backwards from the 22-year-old.

Dishonourable mentions: Tiemoue Bakayoko, Fode Ballo-Toure

AC Milan 2021/22 most appearances

• Alexis Saelemaekers - 46 (36 Serie A, 6 Champions League, 4 Coppa Italia)
• Sandro Tonali - 45 (36 Serie A, 6 Champions League, 3 Coppa Italia)
• Rafael Leao - 42 (34 Serie A, 4 Champions League, 4 Coppa Italia)
• Theo Hernandez - 41 (32 Serie A, 5 Champions League, 4 Coppa Italia)
• Brahim Diaz - 40 (31 Serie A, 5 Champions League, 4 Coppa Italia)

AC Milan 2021/22 top scorers

• Rafael Leao - 14 (11 Serie A, 1 Champions League, 2 Coppa Italia)
• Olivier Giroud - 14 (11 Serie A, 3 Coppa Italia)
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 8 (8 Serie A)
• Franck Kessie - 7 (6 Serie A, 1 Coppa Italia)
• Junior Messias - 6 (5 Serie A, 1 Champions League)

AC Milan 2021/22 top assisters

• Rafael Leao - 12 (10 Serie A, 1 Champions League, 1 Coppa Italia)
• Theo Hernandez - 10 (6 Serie A, 1 Champions League, 3 Coppa Italia)
• Brahim Diaz - 4 (3 Serie A, 1 Champions League)
• Olivier Giroud - 4 (4 Serie A)
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 3 (3 Serie A)

AC Milan 2021/22 record in all competitions

• Serie A - P38, W26, D8, L4, GF 39, GA 31, GD +38, Pts 86, Position 1st
• Champions League - P6, W1, D1, L4, GF 6, GA 9, group stage
• Coppa Italia - P4, W2, D1, L1, GF 7, GA 4, semi-final