Rafael (footballer, born 1989)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Pires and the second or paternal family name is Monteiro.

Rafael Pires Monteiro (born 23 June 1989), known simply as Rafael, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for São Paulo.

Rafael

Personal information
Full name	Rafael Pires Monteiro[1]
Date of birth	(1989-06-23) 23 June 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	Coronel Fabriciano, Brazil
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	São Paulo
Number	23
Youth career
2002–2008	Cruzeiro
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2020	Cruzeiro	76	(0)
2020–2022	Atlético Mineiro	29	(0)
2023–	São Paulo	85	(0)
International career
2009	Brazil U20	14	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 May 2024

Club career

Cruzeiro

Rafael joined the youth ranks of Cruzeiro in 2002 and received his first call up to the first team squad six years later. He made his professional debut on 30 January 2010, in a Campeonato Mineiro 3–0 defeat to Ipatinga. On 4 December 2011, he was in the starting lineup in one of Cruzeiro's most famed Clássico Mineiro wins, in which they beat rivals Atlético Mineiro 6–1 in the last round of that year's Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and avoided relegation.

During Cruzeiro's 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A campaign, Rafael served as the main goalkeeper, while the first choice and club captain Fábio recovered from a long-term injury. During the first months of 2017, he and Fábio battled for the spot, with Rafael starting in most of the 2017 Campeonato Mineiro matches.

Atlético Mineiro

On 3 March 2020, Rafael joined Atlético Mineiro on a three-year deal.^[2]

São Paulo

On 8 December 2022, Rafael signed a three-year deal with São Paulo.^[3]

International career

On 19 May 2024, Rafael was called up for the Brazil national team to participate the 2024 Copa América as a replacement for Ederson due to injury.^[4]

Career statistics

As of 31 May 2024^[5]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		State League		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cruzeiro	2010	Série A	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	—		5	0
	2011		6	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		7	0
	2012		1	0	0	0	—		1	0	—		2	0
	2013		2	0	0	0	—		2	0	—		4	0
	2014		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2015		2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	—		4	0
	2016		17	0	6	0	—		1	0	1[a]	0	25	0
	2017		6	0	7	0	2[b]	0	14	0	4[a]	0	33	0
	2018		8	0	0	0	1[c]	0	3	0	—		12	0
	2019		3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		4	0
	Total		48	0	13	0	3	0	28	0	5	0	97	0
Atlético Mineiro	2020	Série A	10	0	—		—		7	0	—		17	0
	2021		1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	—		5	0
	2022		1	0	1	0	1[c]	0	6	0	—		9	0
	Total		12	0	1	0	1	0	17	0	0	0	31	0
São Paulo	2023	Série A	33	0	10	0	10[b]	0	13	0	—		66	0
	2024		14	0	2	0	8[c]	0	11	0	1[d]	0	36	0
	Total		47	0	12	0	18	0	24	0	1	0	102	0
Career total			107	0	26	0	22	0	72	0	6	0	230	0

1. Appearance(s) in Primeira Liga
2. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
3. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
4. Appearances in Supercopa do Brasil

Honours

Clubs

Cruzeiro

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2013, 2014
• Copa do Brasil: 2017, 2018
• Campeonato Mineiro: 2009, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019
• Copa São Paulo de Futebol Jr.: 2007

Atlético Mineiro

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2021
• Copa do Brasil: 2021
• Campeonato Mineiro: 2020, 2021, 2022
• Supercopa do Brasil: 2022

São Paulo

• Copa do Brasil: 2023
• Supercopa do Brasil: 2024

Brazil U20

• South American Youth Championship: 2009

Individual

• 2024 Supercopa do Brasil Man of the Match

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: Brazil" (PDF). FIFA. 6 October 2009. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2009.
2. "Galo contrata o goleiro Rafael" (in Portuguese). Clube Atlético Mineiro. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
3. "São Paulo contrata goleiro Rafael" (in Portuguese). São Paulo FC. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
4. "Dorival Júnior completa lista da Copa América" [Dorival Júnior completes Copa América list] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Brazilian Football Confederation. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
5. Rafael at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 March 2020.

External links

• Rafael at Soccerway