Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Akaita mutambo wake wokutanga wenyika yose nokuda kweBrazil muna 1990. Akasarudzwa semubatsiri kuruboshwe nokuda kwe1994 FIFA World Cup, kuchengeta Roberto Carlos muduku kunze kwechikwata, kunyanya kunetseka kwekupedzisira. Leonardo akatamba zvakanaka mumitambo yokutanga asi ipapo akapiwa kumiswa kwemitambo mina nokuda kwokurova mutambi wepakati weAmerica Tab Ramos mumusoro, zvichikonzera kuputsika kwehuro kwakamuisa muchipatara kwemwedzi mitatu nehafu. Kumiswa kwaLeonardo kwakamudzivisa kupinda mumakwikwi akasara. Kwaive kurambidzwa kwechipiri kwakarebesa kwakaiswa munhoroondo yeWorld Cup, mushure mekumiswa kwemitambo misere kwaMauro Tassotti nekutyora mhino yaLuis Enrique mumutambo mumwe chetewo. Muna 1995, akatora rutivi mu
Copa América neBrazil, uko chikwata chakasvika kumagumo.