Leonardo also earned 56 caps for the Brazil national team, winning the 1994 FIFA World Cup before finishing as a World Cup runner-up four years later in France. In 2009, he began the second chapter of his career when he was appointed as AC Milan’s Head Coach, before later taking charge of Inter, leading the Nerazzurri to Coppa Italia success in 2011.
After leaving coaching behind, Leonardo found his true calling in football management. He first served as Sporting Director at Paris Saint-Germain, before returning to Milan in 2018 as the club's General Director of the Technical and Sporting Area, with Paolo Maldini working alongside him.
In 2019, six years after his previous spell, he returned to Paris Saint-Germain as Sporting Director, a role he held until May 2022. On 11 July 2026, FIGC President Giovanni Malagò appointed him as advisor to the new Technical Director of the Italian Football Federation and Club Italia President, Paolo Maldini.