Rafael Carioca

For other people named Rafael Carioca, see Rafael Carioca (disambiguation).

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is de Souza and the second or paternal family name is Pereira.

Rafael de Souza Pereira (18 June 1989), known as Rafael Carioca, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Liga MX club Tigres UANL.

Rafael Carioca

Carioca with Spartak Moscow in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Rafael de Souza Pereira
Date of birth	(1989-06-18) 18 June 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Tigres UANL
Number	5
Youth career
2004–2005	Sendas
2006	Profute
2006–2008	Grêmio
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008	Grêmio	34	(0)
2009–2014	Spartak Moscow	126	(2)
2010	→ Vasco da Gama (loan)	52	(0)
2014–2017	Atlético Mineiro	169	(5)
2017–	Tigres UANL	269	(5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 December 2024

Club career

Grêmio

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Carioca joined Grêmio's youth setup in 2006, from Profute.^[1] Promoted to the first team after captaining the under-20 side in the 2008 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior by Vágner Mancini, he was subsequently relegated back to the youth sides, as the manager complained about his attitude.^[2]

Promoted back to the main squad in March 2008 by new manager Celso Roth, Rafael Carioca made his first team debut on 26 March, coming on as a substitute for Nunes in a 4–1 Campeonato Gaúcho away routing of 15 de Novembro.^[3] He made his Série A debut on 10 May, starting in a 1–0 away win against São Paulo,^[4] and finished the campaign as a first-choice in the central midfield, creating a strong partnership with William Magrão and appearing in 34 matches.

Spartak Moscow

In December 2008, Rafael Carioca joined Russian club Spartak Moscow on a five-year contract.^[5] He made his debut abroad on 15 March, starting in a 1–1 home draw against Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Rafael Carioca spent the 2010 season on loan at Vasco da Gama,^[6] being an undisputed starter. Upon returning, he also became a first-choice, and scored his first professional goal on 6 May 2012, netting the winner in a 3–2 away defeat of Zenit.

Atlético Mineiro

On 13 August 2014, Rafael Carioca returned to his home country after being presented at Atlético Mineiro, agreeing to a year-long loan deal.^[7] Upon arriving, he became a first-choice player in Atlético's team that went on to win that year's Copa do Brasil, overcoming longtime incumbent .

Rafael Carioca had a solid start in the following season, which included an impressive goal against Colo-Colo in the Copa Libertadores and a Campeonato Mineiro win, again as a part of the team's starting eleven. On 21 July 2015, Atlético bought 50% of Rafael Carioca's federative rights, agreeing to a permanent four-year deal.^[8]

Tigres UANL

On 25 August 2017, Rafael Carioca joined Liga MX club Tigres UANL.^[9] In his first season, he played the historical final against rivals C.F. Monterrey. In the first leg the teams tied by 1–1 at the Estadio Universitario. In the Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Tigres beat Monterrey by 2–1 with goals of Edu Vargas and Francisco Meza, as Rafael Carioca played a key role by assisting Meza with a cross from the right wing to score the second goal. Besides, in a successful six-year career so far with Tigres, he has won the 2018 and 2023 Campeón de Campeones; 2020 CONCACAF Champions Cup; 2020 Campeones Cup and Clausura 2019 and Clausura 2023 season of the Mexican League, besides, runner-ups of the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup against Bayern Munich.

International career

In 2007, Rafael Carioca captained the Brazil under-20 side and featured in the Sendai Cup for the under-18s in the same year, but was an unused substitute in the tournament. He received his first international call-up for the senior squad on 22 August 2016, for matches against Ecuador and Colombia.^[10]

Career statistics

As of match played 2 November 2024^[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State league[a]		National cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Grêmio	2008[12]	Série A	34	0	2	0	1	0	—		—		37	0
Spartak Moscow	2009	Russian Premier League	23	0	—		1	0	—		—		24	0
	2010–11		0	0	—		2	0	5[c]	0	—		7	0
	2011–12		23	0	—		2	0	2[c]	0	—		27	0
	2012–13		27	1	—		2	0	8[d]	1	—		37	2
	2013–14		26	0	—		2	0	2[c]	0	—		30	0
	2014–15		1	0	—		0	0	—		—		1	0
	Total		100	1	—		9	0	17	1	—		126	2
Vasco da Gama (loan)	2010	Série A	34	0	11	0	7	0	—		—		52	0
Atlético Mineiro	2014	Série A	9	0	—		3	0	—		—		12	0
	2015		36	0	13	1	2	0	8[e]	1	—		59	2
	2016		27	1	11	1	7	0	9[e]	1	1[f]	0	56	3
	2017		18	0	13	0	3	0	7[e]	0	2[f]	0	43	0
	Total		90	1	37	2	15	0	24	2	3	0	169	5
UANL	2017–18	Liga MX	35	2	—		1	0	3[g]	0	—		39	2
	2018–19		39	1	—		2	0	8[g]	0	2[h]	0	51	1
	2019–20		28	1	—		—		6[g]	1	—		34	2
	2020–21		33	0	—		—		—		3[i]	0	36	0
	2021–22		41	0	—		—		—		1[j]	0	42	0
	2022–23		41	0	—		—		6[g]	0	—		47	0
	2023–24		38	1	—		—		4[k]	0	6[l]	0	48	1
	2024–25		13	0	—		—		0	0	4[m]	0	17	0
	Total		268	5	—		3	0	27	1	16	0	314	6
Career total			526	7	50	2	35	0	68	4	19	0	696	13

1. Includes Campeonato Gaúcho, Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Mineiro
2. Includes Copa do Brasil, Russian Cup, Copa MX
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
5. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
6. Appearance(s) in Primeira Liga
7. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
8. One appearance in Campeón de Campeones, one appearance in Campeones Cup
9. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
10. Appearance in Leagues Cup
11. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
12. One appearance in Campeón de Campeones, one appearance in Campeones Cup, four appearances in Leagues Cup
13. One appearance in Supercopa de la Liga MX, three appearances in Leagues Cup

Honours

Atlético Mineiro

• Copa do Brasil: 2014
• Campeonato Mineiro: 2015, 2017

Tigres UANL

• Liga MX: Apertura 2017, Clausura 2019, Clausura 2023
• Campeón de Campeones: 2018, 2023
• CONCACAF Champions League: 2020
• Campeones Cup: 2018, 2023

Individual

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2015^[13]
• CONCACAF Champions League Team of the Tournament: 2019^[14]

References

1. "Direito de resposta" [Right of reply]. Placar (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 2007. p. 83. Retrieved 9 January 2019. Na esteira do sucesso de Anderson, Lucas e Carlos Eduardo, o Grêmio ainda prepara para a próxima temporada a apresentação de sua mais nova pérola: Rafael Carioca, um segundo volante de 18 anos que veio do ProFute, do Rio de Janeiro. Em menos de um ano no Olímpico, ele já foi eleito craque de dois campeonatos que o clube participou: a Copa Santiago e a Punta Camp (disputada em Punta del Este, no Uruguai).
2. "Rafael Carioca não entende má fama dos tempos de Vagner Mancini" [Rafael Carioca does not get bad reputation in Vagner Mancini's times] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
3. "Reservas tricolores atropelam o 15" [Reserve team of tricolor thrash 15] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
4. "Na estréia do BR, São Paulo sucumbe ante o Grêmio no Morumbi" [In BR's debut, São Paulo fall against Grêmio at the Morumbi] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 10 May 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
5. "Rafael Carioca thrilled to join Spartak". UEFA.com. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
6. "Vasco apresenta volante Rafael Carioca" [Vasco present defensive midfielder Rafael Carioca] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Clic RBS. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
7. "Rafael Carioca espera conquistar títulos com a camisa alvinegra" [Rafael Carioca hopes to win titles with the black-and-white shirt] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Clube Atlético Mineiro. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
8. "Atlético-MG oficializa compra de direitos do volante Rafael Carioca e lateral Douglas Santos" [Atlético-MG make official the purchase of defensive midfielder Rafael Carioca and full back Douglas Santos' rights] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Vavel. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
9. "Atlético-MG confirma venda de Rafael Carioca ao Tigres-MEX: 'Orgulho de ter vestido essa camisa'" [Atlético-MG confirm sale of Rafael Carioca to Tigres-MEX: 'Proud of having worn this shirt'] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
10. "Primeira lista de convocados do técnico Tite" [First call-up list by head coach Tite]. Brazilian Football Confederation (in Portuguese). 12 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
11. Rafael Carioca at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
12. "Súmulas do Grêmio em 2008" [2008 Grêmio's match reports] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Grêmiopédia. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
13. "Vencedores do Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão 2015" (in Portuguese). Confederação Brasileira de Futebol. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
14. Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League [@TheChampions] (2 May 2019). "Presenting the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League 2019 Team of the Tournament!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 May 2019 – via Twitter.

External links

• Rafael Carioca at Soccerway