Lucas Da Cunha, an Artist at Work

Lucas Da Cunha moves like a player who sees the game a second before everyone else. At just 23, in his debut Serie A season, the French midfielder is making a habit of moments that turn heads. Yesterday, under the lights of San Siro, he delivered another: a brilliant strike that put Como 1907 ahead against AC Milan, a goal crafted with the kind of sharpness and intent that’s fast becoming his signature.

For the 5,000 travelling Como fans packed into the away section, it was a moment of pure elation, the kind of memory that lives long in the stands. For Da Cunha, it was another step in a season that’s seen him evolve from a wide forward into a midfielder with vision, control, and a growing influence over Como’s attacking rhythm.

Cesc Fàbregas, a man who knows a thing or two about the demands of midfield, summed it up post-match. “Lucas doesn’t surprise me anymore. If you’ve followed Como from last year in Serie B to now, you’ll understand why I said I would play with eleven Da Cunhas. He’s adapting to that midfield role, which is the most challenging position in football because you’re surrounded from all sides. You need not just technical quality but also tactical and physical attributes—and he has it all.”

That trust isn’t handed out lightly. Fàbregas, meticulous in his approach, sees something special in Da Cunha’s ability to read the game. “He understands everything we want to do,” the coach continued. “Just a second of instruction—‘Come on Lucas, let’s do this’—and he’ll run through a wall with that idea.”

Da Cunha’s goal at San Siro wasn’t just about technique; it was about confidence, the kind that comes when a player starts believing he belongs on stages like this. “It was an incredible feeling to score at San Siro for the first time,” he said. “It was also a historic moment, with 5,000 supporters there for us. We are truly grateful to them—it was an unforgettable experience. Once again, I think we played well as a team, and although we didn’t secure all three points, we’ll keep working hard.”

Como defender Edoardo Goldaniga pointed to the broader significance of his goal and his disallowed one, not just for Da Cunha but for the team’s identity. “When you watch Como play, you can see the work we put in during training. We bring our playing philosophy onto the pitch, and we’ll continue on this path to grow further. Unfortunately, this season we often find ourselves discussing matches like this—our second goal was disallowed for an extremely tight offside. At 2-0, it would have been a different match.”

Da Cunha is a player in the ascendency, a creative force who has found a home in Como’s midfield, where his energy, precision, and movement are shaping the team’s attacking patterns. “If he continues with this mentality, he will become a very, very strong player,” Fàbregas concluded.

The next chapter of Da Cunha’s rise will have to wait until after the international break. But if his trajectory so far is anything to go by, there are plenty more moments like San Siro to come.