Rafinha
Rafinha celebrating the gold medal with Brazil at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Full name Rafael Alcântara do Nascimento[1]
Date of birth (1993-02-12) 12 February 1993 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth São Paulo, Brazil[2]
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Al-Arabi
Number 10
Youth career
2006–2011 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Barcelona B 84 (19)
2011–2020 Barcelona 56 (8)
2013–2014 → Celta (loan) 32 (4)
2018 → Inter Milan (loan) 17 (2)
2019–2020 → Celta (loan) 29 (4)
2020–2022 Paris Saint-Germain 28 (0)
2022 → Real Sociedad (loan) 17 (1)
2022– Al-Arabi 23 (3)
International career
2009 Spain U16 2 (0)
2009–2010 Spain U17 8 (2)
2010 Spain U19 4 (1)
2013 Brazil U20 3 (0)
2014–2016 Brazil U23 6 (0)
2015 Brazil 2 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:54, 6 March 2024 (UTC)

Rafael Alcântara do Nascimento (born 12 February 1993), commonly known as Rafinha ([ʁɐˈfiɲa]), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi.

He started his career with Barcelona, making his debut with the first team in 2011. After a loan at Celta, he played his first La Liga match for the former club in 2014. In October 2020, he signed with Paris Saint-Germain.

Rafinha represented both Spain and Brazil at youth level, before debuting with the latter as a senior in 2015.

Club career

Barcelona

Born in São Paulo, Brazil,[4] Rafinha joined Barcelona's youth ranks at the age of 13. On 8 January 2011 he made his professional debut with the B team, coming on as a substitute for Jonathan dos Santos in the 55th minute of a 2–1 home loss against Girona in the Segunda División.[5] A week later, again off the bench and in the same competition, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 win at Salamanca, also adding an assist.[6]

Rafinha made his debut with the senior Barcelona squad on 9 November 2011, taking the place of Cesc Fàbregas for the last 15 minutes of a 1–0 away victory over Hospitalet in the Copa del Rey.[7] He finished the league season with 39 games – 35 starts – and eight goals for the reserves, including two in a 4–0 defeat of Cartagena on 4 September of the same year.[8]

On 27 June 2013, Rafinha extended his contract with Barça, keeping him at the club until 2016.[9] A few weeks later, he was loaned to fellow La Liga team Celta,[10] and made his debut in the Spanish top flight on 19 August, helping the Galicians to a 2–2 home draw against Espanyol.[11] He scored his first league goal 12 days later in another draw at the Balaídos (1–1, with Granada).[12]

Rafinha netted a brace at Real Sociedad on 23 November 2013, but it amounted to nothing as the hosts won 4–3 with four goals from Carlos Vela.[13] He was voted the league's Breakthrough Player of the Season, ahead of Real Madrid's Jesé and Rayo Vallecano's Saúl Ñíguez.[14]

Rafinha playing for Barcelona in August 2014 against Napoli

Rafinha made his league debut for Barcelona on 24 August 2014 in Luis Enrique's first match in charge, playing the first half of an eventual 3–0 win against Elche at the Camp Nou before being replaced by Marc Bartra.[15] On 25 November, he assisted Lionel Messi's goal in a 4–0 group stage victory at APOEL, which made him the outright top scorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League; however, he was also sent off for two bookings later on in the match.[16]

Rafinha scored his first goal for the Blaugrana on 3 December 2014, concluding a 4–0 away win against Huesca in the first leg of the Spanish Cup's last 32 (12–1 aggregate).[17] The following 1 February, he recorded his first goal for the team in the domestic league, part of a 3–2 home defeat of Villarreal.[18] They went on to win the treble, with the player being an unused substitute in the domestic and European finals.

With compatriot Neymar out through illness, Rafinha started on the left of Barcelona's attack in the 2015 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla in Tbilisi, scoring the third goal in a 5–4 win.[19] On 16 September he suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament during the 1–1 away draw to Roma in the Champions League group phase, leaving the game on a stretcher after being on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Radja Nainggolan; after surgery, he was expected to be out for about six months.[20]

Rafinha scored six times in only 18 appearances in the 2016–17 campaign, but also had to undergo surgery to an internal meniscus ailment following a match against Granada in April 2017, going on to be sidelined until the end of the year.[21][22]

On 22 January 2018, Inter Milan announced the acquisition of Rafinha on a loan with an option to buy for €35 million.[23][24] He made his debut for the club six days later by entering in the last moments of the 1–1 draw against S.P.A.L.[25] He scored his first goal on 6 May, in the 4–0 away victory over Udinese.[26]

On 24 November 2018, Rafinha ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during a 1–1 draw at Atlético Madrid, being again sidelined for several months.[27] On 2 September 2019, immediately after extending his contract until 2021,[28] he rejoined Celta on a season-long loan.[29]

Paris Saint-Germain

Rafinha signed a three-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain on 5 October 2020.[30] He made his Ligue 1 debut 11 days later in a 4–0 win at Nîmes, and assisted the opening goal scored by Kylian Mbappé.[31]

On 27 December 2021, Rafinha joined Real Sociedad on loan for the remainder of the season.[32] He scored his only goal the following 13 February, closing the 2–0 home defeat of Granada.[33]

Al-Arabi

On 3 September 2022, Rafinha moved to Al-Arabi of the Qatar Stars League on a two-year contract.[34][35]

International career

Rafinha played for Spain at youth level, earning 14 caps for three different teams.[36][37][38] On 29 February 2012, he scored for the under-19s in the first minute of their 2–1 friendly win over France in Meaux.[39]

Later that year, however, Rafinha switched allegiance to Brazil, going on to represent the under-20 side at the 2013 South American Youth Championship in Argentina.[40] He was one of seven stand-by players named by Dunga for the senior team at the 2015 Copa América.[41]

In September 2015, Rafinha was called up by Dunga for friendlies against Costa Rica and the United States. On 5 September, he entered the former game at New Jersey's Red Bull Arena in the 81st minute in place of Luiz Gustavo.[42] Four days later, a minute after taking the field against the latter, he scored his first goal, then assisted clubmate Neymar in a 4–1 win.[43]

Personal life

Rafinha's father, Mazinho, was also a footballer and a midfielder, notably winning the 1994 FIFA World Cup with Brazil. His mother Valéria played volleyball, while his older brother, Thiago – another midfielder – also emerged through Barcelona's youth ranks, going on to represent its first team and the Spain national side.[44]

Rodrigo, who played youth football with Real Madrid and went on to spend several seasons with Benfica and Valencia, is a lifelong friend who has erroneously been referred to as Rafinha's cousin.[45][46]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 April 2023[47]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona B 2010–11 Segunda División 9 1 — — — 9 1
2011–12 39 8 — — — 39 8
2012–13 36 10 — — — 36 10
Total 84 19 — — — 84 19
Barcelona 2011–12 La Liga 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 0 0 2 0
2012–13 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 0 0 1 0
2014–15 24 1 6 1 6[a] 0 — 36 2
2015–16 6 1 1 0 2[a] 0 2[b] 1 11 2
2016–17 18 6 4 1 6[a] 0 0 0 28 7
2017–18 0 0 1 0 0[a] 0 0 0 1 0
2018–19 5 0 0 0 2[a] 1 1[c] 0 8 1
2019–20 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Total 56 8 13 2 18 1 3 1 90 12
Celta (loan) 2013–14 La Liga 32 4 1 0 — — 33 4
Inter Milan (loan) 2017–18 Serie A 17 2 0 0 — — 17 2
Celta (loan) 2019–20 La Liga 29 4 1 0 — — 30 4
Paris Saint-Germain 2020–21 Ligue 1 23 0 3 0 8[a] 0 0 0 34 0
2021–22 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Total 28 0 3 0 8 0 0 0 39 0
Real Sociedad (loan) 2021–22 La Liga 17 1 2 0 2[d] 0 — 21 1
Al-Arabi 2022–23 Qatar Stars League 10 0 3 2 — 8[e] 1 21 3
Career total 272 38 23 4 28 1 11 2 335 45
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ One appearance and one goal in UEFA Super Cup, one appearance in Supercopa de España
  3. ^ Appearances in Supercopa de España
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Three appearances in FIFA Referees Cup, four appearances in Qatari Stars Cup, one appearance in Qatar Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Brazil 2015 2 1
Total 2 1
Appearances and goals by national team at Summer Olympics
National team Year Apps Goals
Brazil 2016 5 0
Total 5 0
Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rafinha goal.
List of international goals scored by Rafinha
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 8 September 2015 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United States  United States 3–0 4–1 Friendly[48]

Honours

Rafinha (left) posing with the 2015 UEFA Super Cup, alongside compatriots Adriano, Dani Alves and Douglas

Barcelona

Paris Saint-Germain

Al-Arabi

Brazil U20

Brazil U23

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Acta del partido celebrado el 24 de noviembre de 2018, en Madrid" [Minutes of the match held on 24 November 2018, in Madrid] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Rafinha". Eurosport. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Rafinha". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Rafinha, cedido al Celta de Vigo" [Rafinha, loaned to Celta de Vigo] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  5. ^ "El Girona se aprovecha de un loco final" [Girona profit from crazy ending]. Marca (in Spanish). 8 January 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  6. ^ "VIDEO: Introducing a new Barcelona starlet: Rafa Alcantara (Rafinha)". Goal. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  7. ^ Aldunate, Ramiro (9 November 2011). "Otro 'Iniestazo'" [Another 'Iniestazo']. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  8. ^ García, Gregorio (4 September 2011). "Vuelve el mejor Barça B con un festival goleador en Cartagonova" [The best Barça B return in a goalscoring festival in Cartagonova]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  9. ^ "FC Barcelona agree to extend Rafinha's contract". FC Barcelona. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Rafinha, cedido al Celta" [Rafinha, loaned to Celta]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 July 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  11. ^ "Charles makes instant Celta impact". ESPN FC. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  12. ^ "Celta Vigo hold Granada". ESPN FC. 31 August 2013. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  13. ^ Escribano, Beñat (23 November 2013). "Real Sociedad 4–3 Celta: Carlos Vela reina en la locura de Anoeta" [Real Sociedad 4–3 Celta: Carlos Vela reigns in Anoeta madness] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Rafinha, 'Mejor Jugador Revelación de la Liga BBVA 2013–14'" [Rafinha, 'BBVA League's Best Newcomer 2013–14'] (in Spanish). La Liga. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  15. ^ Cryer, Andy (24 August 2014). "Barcelona 3–0 Elche". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  16. ^ "Apoel Nicosia 0–4 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  17. ^ Bell, Arch (3 December 2014). "Barça blow past Huesca". Marca. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
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  19. ^ a b Johnston, Neil (11 August 2015). "Barcelona 5–4 Sevilla". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Barcelona's Rafinha tears ACL, set to undergo surgery". ESPN FC. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Rafinha: Injured Barcelona midfielder has knee surgery". BBC Sport. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  22. ^ "Rafinha receives medical clearance". FC Barcelona. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  23. ^ Aldunate, Ramiro (19 January 2018). "Rafinha se va al Inter de Milán" [Rafinha goes to Inter Milan]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  24. ^ Mascitti, Alex (22 January 2018). "OFFICIAL: Inter signs Rafinha from Barcelona". Italian Football Daily. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  25. ^ "Na estreia de Rafinha, Inter leva gol no último minuto e empata com o Spal" [In debut of Rafinha, Inter take last-minute goal and draw with Spal] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  26. ^ "Udinese 0–4 Inter: Spalletti's side storm to victory as zebrette crumble amid relegation pressures". Sports Illustrated. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  27. ^ "Rafinha says goodbye to the season: Breaks his anterior cruciate knee ligament". Marca. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  28. ^ "Rafinha renueva con el Barcelona hasta 2021 y se marcha cedido al Celta" [Rafinha renews with Barcelona until 2021 and goes to Celta on loan] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  29. ^ "'Un dos nosos' para cerrar una ilusionante plantilla: Rafinha llega al RC Celta" ['Un dos nosos' ('One of ours' in Galician) to complete an exciting squad: Rafinha arrives at RC Celta] (in Spanish). Celta Vigo. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  30. ^ "Rafinha joins Paris Saint-Germain". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  31. ^ "Rafinha praised after fine PSG debut". Ligue 1. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  32. ^ "Agreement for the loan of Rafinha". Real Sociedad. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  33. ^ "2–0. La Real se rearma de moral con goles de Oyarzabal y Rafinha" [2–0. Morale boost for Real with goals from Oyarzabal and Rafinha] (in Spanish). EFE. 13 February 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  34. ^ "Transferts: Rafinha quitte le PSG pour Al-Arabi (Qatar)" [Transfers: Rafinha leaves PSG for Al-Arabi (Qatar)]. L'Équipe (in French). 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  35. ^ "Official | Rafinha joins Al Arabi Qatar on 2-year deal". Get French Football News. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  36. ^ "España 6 Islas Feroe 0" [Spain 6 Faroe Islands 0]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 16 October 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  37. ^ "Rafinha lidera la convocatoria de la Sub-19" [Rafinha leads Under-19 callup]. Marca (in Spanish). 10 October 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  38. ^ "Brasil 'roba' a España al jugador del Barça Rafinha al convocarle para el Sudamericano sub 20" [Brazil 'steal' Barça player Rafinha from Spain after selecting him for the under 20 South American] (in Spanish). Voz Populi. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  39. ^ "La sub 19 vence a Francia" [The under-19s defeat France]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 February 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  40. ^ "Rafinha to play the U20 South American Championship with Brazil". FC Barcelona. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  41. ^ "Kaka among 7 alternates in Brazil's Copa America squad". ESPN Brasil. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  42. ^ Guell, Robert (5 September 2015). "Rafinha Alcántara debuta con la selección de Brasil" [Rafinha Alcántara debuts with the Brazil national team] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  43. ^ Webber, Tom (9 September 2015). "United States 1–4 Brazil: Neymar comes off the bench to net brace in international friendly". Goal. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  44. ^ Roura, Conchita (21 August 2009). "Thiago y Jonathan, ADN fútbol" [Thiago and Jonathan, football DNA]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  45. ^ Navarro, Cristina (5 December 2012). "Primos en el césped" [Cousins on the pitch]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  46. ^ Castelao, Eduardo J. (12 June 2018). "Thiago y Rodrigo, los falsos primos 'ingleses'" [Thiago and Rodrigo, the false 'English' cousins]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  47. ^ a b c "Rafinha". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  48. ^ "Festival de Neymar y Rafinha con Brasil para derrotar a Estados Unidos" [Neymar and Rafinha festival with Brazil to defeat the United States]. Sport (in Spanish). 9 September 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  49. ^ "Messi offre au PSG son 10e titre de champion" [Messi gifts PSG its 10th league title] (in French). Ligue 1. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  50. ^ Tessier, Côme (19 May 2021). "Monaco-PSG en direct: Paris garde sa coupe après une finale presque insipide" [Monaco-PSG live: Paris retain their cup after nearly unsavoury final] (in French). RMC. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  51. ^ Rapp, Timothy (8 June 2013). "Toulon Tournament final 2013: Brazil vs. Colombia score, recap and analysis". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  52. ^ "Premios BBVA a los mejores de Febrero" [BBVA Awards to best in February] (in Spanish). La Liga. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rafa Alcántara.
Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) โ€“ current squad
Brazil men's football squad โ€“ 2016 Summer Olympics โ€“ Gold medalists
La Liga Young Player of the Year - LFP Awards
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