| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael da Silva Pontelo | ||
| Date of birth | 22 January 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Sete Lagoas, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sporting CP B | ||
| Number | 45 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| América Mineiro | |||
| Bela Vista | |||
| 2019–2023 | Ponte Preta | ||
| 2022 | → Real Valladolid (loan) | ||
| 2022–2023 | → Cruzeiro (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | Leixões | 12 | (0) |
| 2024– | Sporting CP | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | Sporting CP B | 4 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Pafos (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Auda (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:06, 1 December 2025 (UTC) | |||
Rafael da Silva Pontelo (born 22 January 2003) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga Portugal 2 club Sporting CP B.
Pontelo was born in Matozinhos and raised in Sete Lagoas. He is a youth product of América Mineiro, Bela Vista, and Ponte Preta. [1] From Ponte Preta he moved on loan to the Spanish club Real Valladolid in 2022, and then Cruzeiro until 2023. [2] On 11 July 2023, he transferred to Leixões in the Liga Portugal 2 on a three-year contract where he began his senior career. [3]
On 2 January 2024, he transferred to Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga on a contract until 2028. [4] He made his debut with Sporting CP as a starter in a 4–0 Taça de Portugal win over Tondela on 9 January 2024. [5]
Born in Brazil, Pontelo is of Italian descent and holds dual citizenship. [6] Turned down at Atlético Mineiro because of his slight build, as a child and teenager he escaped street life, crime and violence with the help of Ponte Preta. [7]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leixões | 2023–24 | Liga Portugal 2 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| Sporting CP | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Pafos (loan) | 2024–25 | Cypriot First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Career total | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
Sporting CP