Rafael Santos (footballer, born 1989)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is de Carvalhoand the second or paternal family name is Santos.

Rafael Santos

Rafael Santos in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Rafael de Carvalho Santos
Date of birth	(1989-03-14) 14 March 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	Barretos, Brazil
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Portuguesa
Youth career
2004–2008	Corinthians
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2013	Corinthians	8	(0)
2011	→ Avaí (loan)	1	(0)
2012	→ Bragantino (loan)	27	(0)
2013	→ Botafogo-SP (loan)	20	(0)
2013–2014	São Caetano	42	(0)
2014	Icasa	0	(0)
2014–2015	Portuguesa	42	(0)
2015	Guarani	13	(0)
2016–2017	Madureira	27	(0)
2016	→ Tupi (loan)	31	(0)
2017–2018	Bahia	2	(0)
2018–2019	Vila Nova	62	(0)
2020–2021	Confiança	88	(0)
2022	Tombense	14	(0)
2023–2024	Operário Ferroviário	79	(0)
2025–	Portuguesa	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:51, 20 January 2025 (UTC)

Rafael de Carvalho Santos (born 14 March 1989), known as Rafael Santos, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Portuguesa.

Career

Born in Barretos, Rafael Santos joined Corinthians' youth setup in 2004, aged 15. In 2008, he was promoted to the main squad in the Série B, and made his debut on 29 November of that year, starting in a 0–2 loss at América de Natal, ^[1] as Timão were already champions and both Felipe and Júlio César (first and second choices, respectively) were already on vacation.

In June 2011, after being sparingly used by Corinthians, Rafael Santos moved to fellow Série A side Avaí on loan until the end of the year. ^[2] However, his maiden appearance for the Leão da Ilha was on 7 September, in a 1–2 home loss against Santos. ^[3]

Rafael Santos joined Bragantino on 5 January 2012, also on loan. ^[4] Ahead of the 2013 season, he moved to Botafogo-SP also in a temporary deal. ^[5]

On 10 May 2013, Rafael Santos was presented at São Caetano. ^[6] He was a starter during his debut campaign, which ended in relegation.

On 27 June 2014, Rafael Santos moved to Icasa also in the second division, ^[7] but signed a short-term deal with fellow league side Portuguesa ten days later. ^[8] He immediately became a first-choice ahead of Glédson and Tom, again suffering relegation.

On 6 May 2015, after being released by Lusa, Rafael Santos signed for Guarani. ^[9] He began the 2016 campaign at Madureira, but was loaned to Tupi on 22 April of that year. ^[10]

Back to Madura for the 2017 Campeonato Carioca, Rafael Santos moved to Bahia in the top tier on 12 May 2017, ^[11] but was only a backup option. He signed for Vila Nova on 9 April 2018, ^[12] being mainly a second-choice to Mateus Pasinato in his first year before establishing himself as a starter afterwards.

On 19 December 2019, Rafael Santos joined Confiança for the upcoming season. ^[13] He left on 20 December 2021, after being an undisputed starter, ^[14] and then moved to Tombense.

Rafael Santos started the 2022 season ahead of Felipe Garcia, but subsequently became a second-choice and joined Operário Ferroviário on 9 November of that year. ^[15] On 2 September 2023, he renewed his contract with the club for a further year. ^[16]

On 2 December 2024, Operário announced Rafael Santos' departure from the club, ^[17] and he returned to Portuguesa ten days later. ^[18]

Career statistics

As of 20 January 2025 ^[19]

Club	Season	League			State League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Corinthians	2008	Série B	1	0	—		—		—		—		1	0
	2009	Série A	0	0	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	2010		0	0	3	0	—		1 [a]	0	—		4	0
	2011		0	0	1	0	—		0	0	—		1	0
	Subtotal		1	0	7	0	0	0	1	0	—		9	0
Avaí (loan)	2011	Série A	1	0	—		—		—		—		1	0
Bragantino (loan)	2012	Série B	6	0	21	0	—		—		—		27	0
Botafogo-SP (loan)	2013	Série D	0	0	20	0	—		—		—		20	0
São Caetano	2013	Série B	35	0	—		—		—		1 [b]	0	36	0
	2014	Série C	2	0	5	0	—		—		—		7	0
	Subtotal		37	0	5	0	—		—		1	0	43	0
Portuguesa	2014	Série B	27	0	—		—		—		—		27	0
	2015	Série C	0	0	15	0	1	0	—		—		16	0
	Subtotal		27	0	15	0	1	0	—		—		43	0
Guarani	2015	Série C	13	0	—		—		—		—		13	0
Madureira	2016	Série D	0	0	15	0	—		—		—		15	0
	2017	Carioca	—		12	0	—		—		—		12	0
	Subtotal		0	0	27	0	—		—		—		27	0
Tupi (loan)	2016	Série B	31	0	—		—		—		—		31	0
Bahia	2017	Série A	0	0	—		—		—		—		0	0
	2018		0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	Subtotal		0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Vila Nova	2018	Série B	10	0	—		—		—		—		10	0
	2019		37	0	15	0	6	0	—		—		58	0
	Subtotal		47	0	15	0	6	0	—		—		68	0
Confiança	2020	Série B	32	0	13	0	—		—		10 [c]	0	55	0
	2021		32	0	11	0	1	0	—		9 [c]	0	53	0
	Subtotal		64	0	24	0	1	0	—		19	0	108	0
Tombense	2022	Série B	2	0	12	0	2	0	—		—		16	0
Operário Ferroviário	2023	Série C	22	0	13	0	1	0	—		—		36	0
	2024	Série B	32	0	12	0	4	0	—		—		48	0
	Subtotal		54	0	25	0	5	0	—		—		84	0
Portuguesa	2025	Série D	0	0	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
Career total			283	0	175	0	15	0	1	0	20	0	494	0

1. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
2. Appearance(s) in Copa Paulista
3. Appearance(s) in Copa do Nordeste

Honours

Corinthians

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2008
• Campeonato Paulista: 2009

Bahia

• Campeonato Baiano: 2018

Confiança

• Campeonato Sergipano: 2020

References

1. "América-RN se salva e mancha despedida do Corinthians" [América-RN save themselves and bitter Corinthians' farewell] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 29 November 2008.
2. "Rafael Santos, goleiro, a caminho da Ressacada" [Rafael Santos, goalkeeper, heading to Ressacada] (in Brazilian Portuguese). InfoEsporte. 3 June 2011.
3. "Avaí cede a virada para o Santos e se afunda no Z4" [Avaí suffer comeback to Santos and go deeper into the Z4] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Futebol SC. 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
4. "Bragantino contrata goleiro do Corinthians e aguarda por meia da Bolívia" [Bragantino sign Corinthians goalkeeper and wait for Bolivian midfielder] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Futebol Interior. 5 January 2012.
5. "Destaque contra o Corinthians, Rafael ganha os parabéns do amigo Tite" [A spotlight against Corinthians, Rafael receives praise from friend Tite] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
6. "São Caetano apresenta goleiro Rafael Santos e meia Renato Ribeiro" [São Caetano present goalkeeper Rafael Santos and midfielder Renato Ribeiro] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Terra. 10 May 2013.
7. "Série B: Icasa contrata Rafael Santos, Thiago Miracema e Zé Augusto" [Série B: Icasa sign Rafael Santos, Thiago Miracema and Zé Augusto] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Futebol Interior. 27 June 2014.
8. "Goleiro Rafael Santos chega à Portuguesa" [Goalkeeper Rafael Santos arrives at Portuguesa] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Associação Portuguesa de Desportos. 7 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
9. "Série C: Guarani apresenta Rafael Santos e Lenon para brigar pelo acesso" [Série C: Guarani present Rafael Santos and Lenon to fight for promotion] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Futebol Interior. 6 May 2015.
10. "Confirmados no Tupi-MG, Formiga e Rafael Santos treinam com elenco" [Confirmed at Tupi-MG, Formiga and Rafael Santos train with the squad] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
11. "Bahia anuncia oficialmente contratação do goleiro Rafael Santos" [Bahia officially announce the signing of goalkeeper Rafael Santos] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
12. "Vila Nova fecha com goleiro Rafael Santos e acirra briga pela camisa 1" [Vila Nova sign with goalkeeper Rafael Santos and intensify dispute for the number 1 jersey] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
13. "Ex-Corinthians, novo reforço Confiança promete "dedicação e empenho"" [Formerly of Corinthians, new addition of Confiança promises "dedication and effort"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Futebol Interior. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
14. "Goleiro Rafael Santos deixa Confiança após dois anos e mais de 100 jogos" [Goalkeeper Rafael Santos leaves Confiança after two years and more than 100 matches] (in Brazilian Portuguese). NE45. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
15. "Operário anuncia a contratação de dois goleiros" [Operário announce the signing of two goalkeepers] (in Brazilian Portuguese). dcmais. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
16. "Operário-PR prorroga contrato com o goleiro Rafael Santos" [Operário-PR extend contract with goalkeeper Rafael Santos] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
17. "Operário-PR comunica saída de Rafael Santos; "Saio com o coração cheio de gratidão", afirma o goleiro" [Operário-PR announce departure of Rafael Santos; "I leave with my heart full of gratitude", says the goalkeeper] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
18. "Rafael Santos é o primeiro reforço da Portuguesa SAF para 2025" [Rafael Santos is the first addition of Portuguesa SAF for 2025] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Associação Portuguesa de Desportos. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
19. Rafael Santos at Soccerway