Marcos Leonardo emerged at Santos, making his senior debut as a teenager and establishing himself as one of Brazil's most promising young forwards. Benfica signed him in January 2024 on a long-term contract.

A mobile penalty-box striker rather than a target man, he relies on sharp movement in the area and quick, direct finishing.

His stay in Lisbon proved brief. He began the 2024/25 season in the squad and featured in the opening weeks of the Primeira Liga before Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia signed him in early September 2024, ending a Benfica spell of roughly eight months.

He won the Silver Boot at the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and has represented Brazil at youth level.