{{Short description|Italian footballer (born 2006)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Leonardo Colombo | image = | upright = | caption = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|6|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = Busto Arsizio, Italy | height = 1.79 m | position = Defensive midfielder | currentclub = Monza | clubnumber = 21 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Polisportiva Santi Apostoli | youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Pro Patria | youthyears3 = | youthclubs3 = Atalanta | youthyears4 = | youthclubs4 = Pro Sesto | youthyears5 = 2018–2025 | youthclubs5 = Monza | years1 = 2024– | clubs1 = Monza | caps1 = 27 | goals1 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2025 | nationalteam1 = Italy U20 | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 8 May 2026 | nationalteam-update = 17 November 2025 }} '''Leonardo Colombo''' (born 4 June 2005) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for {{Italian football updater|Monza}} club Monza.
==Club career== ===Youth=== Colombo began playing football with Polisportiva Santi Apostoli in his hometown Busto Arsizio before progressing through the youth systems of Pro Patria, Atalanta, and Pro Sesto, eventually joining Monza's academy in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2023 |title=Leo, 17 anni, primo contratto da professionista in serie A: "Orgogliosi di te" |url=https://www.varesenoi.it/2023/01/06/leggi-notizia/argomenti/calcio-8/articolo/leo-17-anni-primo-contratto-da-professionista-in-serie-a-orgogliosi-di-te-1.html |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Varese Noi |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref name="gazzetta">{{Cite web |title=Colombo apre le ali a Monza. Grazie (anche) alle spiagge sarde |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/calcio/squadre/monza/notizie/30-12-2024/a-monza-c-e-un-nuovo-pessina-e-leonardo-colombo_preview.shtml |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it-IT}}</ref>
After joining Monza, Colombo established himself as one of the club's leading Primavera midfielders. He helped the team achieve promotion to the Primavera 1 championship and accumulated 97 appearances and eight goals at youth level.<ref name="forzamonza">{{Cite web |last=TifosInRete |first=Redazione |date=6 December 2024 |title=Ufficiale: il giovane Colombo rinnova con il Monza |url=https://www.forzamonza.it/2024/12/06/ufficiale-il-giovane-colombo-rinnova-con-il-monza/ |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Forza Monza |language=it-IT}}</ref>
===Monza=== On 5 January 2023, Colombo signed his first professional contract with Monza.<ref name="forzamonza"/><ref name="monza-news">{{cite web|url=https://www.monza-news.it/news/322335837702/monza-primo-contratto-da-professionista-per-il-centrocampista-leonardo-colombo|website=monza-news.it|title=Monza, primo contratto da professionista per il centrocampista Leonardo Colombo|access-date=26 May 2026}}</ref> During the 2024–25 season, Colombo was permanently integrated into Monza's first-team setup after several years in the youth academy. His official senior debut came in the Coppa Italia round of 16 against Bologna, where he started the match.<ref name="tuttomercatoweb">{{Cite web |title=Monza, rinnovo fino al 30 giugno 2027 per Leonardo Colombo: la nota del club |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/monza-rinnovo-fino-al-30-giugno-2027-per-leonardo-colombo-la-nota-del-club-2043007 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=TUTTO mercato WEB |language=it}}</ref>
In December 2024, Monza extended Colombo's contract until June 2027.<ref name="forzamonza"/><ref name="tuttomercatoweb"/> Colombo made his Serie B debut for Monza during the opening match of the 2025–26 season against Mantova; he entered the match in the second half as Monza secured a 1–0 victory.<ref name="ilbustese">{{Cite web |date=24 August 2025 |title=Leonardo Colombo, dal campo dei Santi Apostoli all'esordio in Serie B |url=https://www.ilbustese.it/2025/08/24/leggi-notizia/argomenti/calcio-10/articolo/leonardo-colombo-dal-campo-dei-santi-apostoli-allesordio-in-serie-b.html |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=IlBustese.it |language=it-IT}}</ref> By February 2026, Colombo had become one of the most frequently used midfielders under manager Paolo Bianco, recording 17 Serie B appearances during the season. Monza subsequently renewed his contract until 2029.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Un altro rinnovo per il Monza dopo Ciurria: Leonardo Colombo ha firmato fino al 2029 |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-b/un-altro-rinnovo-per-il-monza-dopo-ciurria-leonardo-colombo-ha-firmato-fino-al-2029-2204418 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=TUTTO mercato WEB |language=it}}</ref>
==International career== Colombo played for the Italy national under-20 team.<ref>{{FIGC Italy U20 player|108063}}</ref> He was first called-up to the under-21 team ahead of a friendly match against Albania on 8 June 2026.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 May 2026 |title=Sguardo al futuro: Nunziata chiama 23 calciatori per il test dell’8 giugno con l’Albania |url=https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/news/sguardo-al-futuro-nunziata-chiama-23-calciatori-per-il-test-dell8-giugno-con-lalbania-ew4ps0vh |publisher=figc.it |language=it}}</ref>
==Style of play== Colombo primarily plays as a defensive midfielder, although he has also been deployed as a central midfielder and centre-back.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dessì |first=Giacomo |date=19 March 2026 |title=Colombo, la rivelazione del Monza: il "piccolo Pessina" sta crescendo |url=https://www.forzamonza.it/2026/03/19/colombo-la-rivelazione-del-monza-il-piccolo-pessina-sta-crescendo/ |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Forza Monza |language=it-IT}}</ref> He has been compared to Monza midfielder Matteo Pessina.<ref name="gazzetta"/>
==Career statistics==
===Club=== {{updated|match played 29 May 2026}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |Coppa Italia ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan="3" |Monza |2024–25 |Serie A||0||0||1||0|| colspan="2" |—||1||0 |- |2025–26 |Serie B |27||1||1||0||3{{Efn|Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs}}||0||31||1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !27!!1!!2!!0!!3!!0!!32!!1 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !27!!1!!2!!0!!3!!0!!32!!1 |} {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerway|new_id=colombo-leonardo/z17JyXM1}}
{{AC Monza squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colombo, Leonardo}} Category:2005 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Busto Arsizio Category:Italian men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:AC Monza players Category:Serie B players Category:Italy men's youth international footballers Category:21st-century Italian sportsmen