Rafael Navarro (footballer)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Navarro and the second or paternal family name is Leal.

Rafael Navarro Leal (born 14 April 2000) is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Colorado Rapids as a forward.

Rafael Navarro

Personal information
Full name	Rafael Navarro Leal
Date of birth	(2000-04-14) 14 April 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Cabo Frio, Brazil
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Colorado Rapids
Number	9
Youth career
0000–2017	Fluminense
2018–2019	Atlético Goianiense
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2021	Botafogo	62	(18)
2022–2024	Palmeiras	47	(2)
2023–2024	→ Colorado Rapids (loan)	30	(12)
2023	→ Colorado Rapids 2 (loan)	1	(0)
2024–	Colorado Rapids	14	(4)
International career
2015	Brazil U15	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of = 25 October 2024

Career

Botafogo

Born in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro state, Navarro played as a youth for Fluminense before moving to Atlético Goianiense, where he was an unused substitute in the 2019 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. On 30 October 2019, he returned to his home state, signing for Botafogo on a two-year deal and being assigned to the under-20 team.^[1]

Navarro made his professional debut on 18 January 2020 in a 1–0 Campeonato Carioca loss away to Volta Redonda, as a 73rd-minute replacement for Lucas Campos; he made six more appearances over the season. His Série A debut came a year and a week later off the bench in a 2–0 loss at Fluminense, while his first goal was on 2 February 2021 to earn a 1–1 draw at Palmeiras.^[2] He scored again in a 5–2 loss at home to Grêmio, with his team already relegated.^[3]

In the 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, Navarro finished as third-highest scorer with 15 goals as his team won it.^[4] This included braces in wins over Náutico and Brusque towards the end of the season, both at the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos.^[5][6]

Palmeiras

On 22 December 2021, Palmeiras signed Navarro for the next five years.^[7] He played ten times in the victorious season in the Campeonato Paulista, but did not score. On 12 February 2022 he played the final 17 minutes of a 2–1 loss to Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup Final.^[8] In his first Copa Libertadores game for the two-times defending champions on 7 April, he came off the bench at half time to score twice in a 4–0 win at Venezuela's Deportivo Táchira;^[9] he followed it a week later with four goals in thirty minutes of an 8–1 rout of Bolivians Independiente Petrolero at the Allianz Parque.^[10]

Colorado Rapids (loan)

On 10 July 2023, Navarro signed on loan with Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids on a year-long loan with an option to make the move permanent.^[11]

Colorado Rapids

On 27 June 2024, Navarro made a permanent move to Colorado, signing a deal until the end of 2027.^[12]

Career statistics

As of 26 May 2024.^[13]

Club	Season	League			State league		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Botafogo	2020	Série A	7	2	7[a]	0	1[b]	0	—		—		14	2
	2021	Série B	37	15	11[a]	1	0	0	—		—		46	15
	Total		44	17	18	1	1	0	—		—		63	18
Palmeiras	2022	Série A	23	0	10[c]	0	1[b]	0	10[d]	7	2[e]	0	27	7
	2023		3	1	7[c]	1	3[b]	1	3[d]	1	1[f]	0	17	4
	Total		30	1	17	1	4	1	13	8	3	0	67	11
Colorado Rapids	2023	MLS	10	1	—		0	0	0	0	0	0	10	1
	2024		34	15	—		0	0	0	0	0	0	34	15
Colorado Rapids 2 (loan)	2023	MLS Next Pro	1	0	—		0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Career total			119	34	35	2	5	1	13	8	3	0	175	45

1. Appearances in the Campeonato Carioca
2. Appearances in the Copa do Brasil
3. Appearance(s) in the Campeonato Paulista
4. Appearances in the Copa Libertadores
5. One appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup, one appearance in the Recopa Sudamericana
6. Appearances in the Supercopa do Brasil

Honours

Botafogo

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2021

Palmeiras

• Recopa Sudamericana: 2022
• Campeonato Paulista: 2022, 2023
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2022, 2023
• Supercopa do Brasil: 2023
• FIFA Club World Cup Runner Up: 2021

References

1. Ribeiro, Emanuelle (30 October 2019). "Botafogo contrata Rafael Navarro para o time sub-20; atacante ex Atlético-GO tem 18 gols no ano" [Botafogo sign Rafael Navarro for the under-20 team; ex-Atlético-GO attacker has 18 goals this year] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
2. "Palmeiras empata antes do Mundial, e Botafogo pode cair na próxima rodada" [Palmeiras draw before the Club World Cup, and Botafogo could go down on the next matchday] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
3. "Grêmio vence rebaixado Botafogo por 5 a 2 e acirra briga por Libertadores" [Grêmio defeat relegated Botafogo by 5 goals to 2 and intensify fight for Libertadores] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
4. Carvalho, Fabrício (29 November 2021). "Edu encerra Série B com 17 gols; veja os artilheiros do campeonato" [Edu ends Série B with 17 goals; see the championship's top scorers] (in Portuguese). Torcedores. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
5. "Autor de dois gols na vitória do Botafogo, Rafael Navarro comemora boa fase: 'Muito feliz'" [Author of two goals in Botafogo's victory, Rafael Navarro commemorates good phase: 'Very happy']. Lance! (in Portuguese). 18 September 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
6. "Rafael Navarro resolve, marca dois e Botafogo goleia o Brusque na Série B" [Rafael Navarro resolves, scores two and Botafogo thrash Brusque in Série B] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022. Filho do Antônio com a Alice no pais das maravilhas
7. "Palmeiras anuncia a contratação de Rafael Navarro até o fim de 2026" [Palmeiras announce the signing of Rafael Navarro until the end of 2026] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
8. "Chelsea 2–1 Palmeiras". BBC Sport. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
9. Iwata Lima, Diego (6 April 2022). "Palmeiras goleia Táchira com dois de Navarro em estreia na Libertadores" [Palmeiras thrash Táchira with two from Navarro on Libertadores debut] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
10. Lopesino, Juan (13 April 2022). "Rafael Navarro hace historia con cuatro goles en 30 minutos" [Rafael Navarro makes history with four goals in 30 minutes]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 April 2022.
11. Rapids, Colorado. "Colorado Rapids sign Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro as Designated Player". Colorado Rapids.
12. Rapids, Colorado. "Colorado Rapids permanently acquire forward Rafael Navarro from Palmeiras". Colorado Rapids.
13. Rafael Navarro at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 June 2020.