Rafael Santos (footballer, born 5 February 1998)

Not to be confused with Rafael Santos (footballer, born 2 February 1998).

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Cardosoand the second or paternal family name is dos Santos.

Rafael Santos

Santos with Orlando City in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Rafael Lucas Cardoso dos Santos
Date of birth	(1998-02-05) 5 February 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Left back
Team information
Current team	Orlando City
Number	3
Youth career
2012–2013	Figueirense
2014–2015	Inter de Limeira
2016–2017	Mirassol
2017	→ Atlético Madrid (youth loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017	Mirassol	0	(0)
2018	→ Cruzeiro (loan)	1	(0)
2019–2022	Cruzeiro	15	(0)
2020	→ Chapecoense (loan)	5	(0)
2021	→ Inter de Limeira (loan)	0	(0)
2021	→ Ponte Preta (loan)	26	(3)
2022	→ Coritiba (loan)	15	(0)
2023–	Orlando City	58	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 October 2024

Rafael Lucas Cardoso dos Santos (born 5 February 1998) is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a left back for Orlando City in Major League Soccer.

Club career

Santos developed in the academy of Mirassol, making his senior debut for the club on 2 July 2017 in the 2017 Campeonato Paulista, playing the full 90 minutes against Ferroviária in a 2–1 defeat. He scored his first goal on 27 August 2017, the opening goal in a 4–2 win over Penapolense in the same competition.

In 2018, he joined Cruzeiro, initially on loan. He made 27 appearances for the club's under-20 team including in the 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores. On 14 August 2018, Santos made his first team debut for the club as a 76th-minute substitute for David in a 2–0 Série A defeat to Vasco da Gama. Having joined Cruzeiro permanently in 2019, Santos went on loan for spells with Chapecoense, Inter de Limeira and Ponte Preta in Série B and later with Coritiba in Série A. He made a combined 106 senior appearances while in Brazil in all competitions.

On 5 January 2023, Santos joined American Major League Soccer club Orlando City ahead of the 2023 season on a two-year contract with an additional two club option years. ^[1] On 20 May, Santos scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win at Inter Miami with the help of an assist from Duncan McGuire. ^[2]

On March 9, 2024, Santos assisted in the fastest goal in club history when he won the ball from Minnesota United and passed it to McGuire, who scored in under thirteen seconds, beating Tesho Akindele's previous record of 31 seconds. However, Orlando would go on to lose the game 3–2. ^[3]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 November 2024 ^{[4] [5]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup [a]		Continental		Playoffs [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mirassol	2017	—			—		—		—		13 [c]	1	13	1
Cruzeiro (loan)	2018	Série A	1	0	—		0	0	—		—		1	0
Cruzeiro	2019		2	0	—		0	0	—		—		2	0
	2020		0	0	1	0	—		—		3 [d]	0	4	0
	2021	Série B	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0	0	0
	2022		13	0	5	0	—		—		12 [d]	1	30	1
	Total		16	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	15	1	37	1
Chapecoense (loan)	2020	Série B	5	0	—		—		—		0	0	5	0
Inter de Limeira (loan)	2021	—			—		—		—		10 [c]	1	10	1
Ponte Preta (loan)	2021	Série B	26	3	—		—		—		—		26	3
Coritiba (loan)	2022	Série A	15	0	—		—		—		—		15	0
Orlando City	2023	Major League Soccer	26	1	1	0	1	0	3	0	3 [e]	0	34	1
	2024		32	1	—		3	0	5	0	3 [e]	0	42	1
	Total		58	2	1	0	4	0	8	0	6	0	77	2
Career total			120	5	7	0	4	0	8	0	44	3	183	8

1. Includes Copa do Brasil and U.S. Open Cup
2. Includes MLS Cup Playoffs
3. Campeonato Paulista
4. Campeonato Mineiro
5. Leagues Cup

Honors

Chapecoense

• Série B: 2020

Cruzeiro

• Série B: 2022

References

1. "Orlando City SC acquires Brazilian defender Rafael Santos". Orlando City . 5 January 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
2. "Match report: Orlando City earns 3-1 victory over Inter Miami CF". Orlando City . 21 May 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
3. David, Austin (9 March 2024). "Rapid Reactions: Orlando falls late to Minnesota United". Orlando City . Retrieved 17 December 2024.
4. "Rafael Santos - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
5. "Rafael Lucas Cardoso dos Santos : oGol". www.ogol.com.br (in Portuguese).

External links

• Rafael Santos at Soccerway.com
• Rafael Santos at WorldFootball.net
• Rafael Santos at FBref.com
• Rafael Santos at Major League Soccer