Rafael

Rafael spent twelve years at Cruzeiro after coming through the club's youth academy, making his professional debut in 2008 and staying until the contract was terminated in early 2020 amid a dispute over unpaid wages. That spell brought a string of Campeonato Mineiro titles, two Brasileirão championships and back-to-back Copa do Brasil wins, along with individual recognition as the competition's best goalkeeper and, in 2019, its most beautiful save.

He moved on a free transfer to Atlético Mineiro in March 2020, where the trophies kept coming: further state titles, a Brasileirão crown, a Copa do Brasil and a Supercopa do Brasil. In December 2022, São Paulo paid around R$5 million to bring him in, and he quickly established himself as the club's undisputed starter. He was named best goalkeeper of the 2023 Copa do Brasil, which São Paulo won, and was named man of the match as the club lifted the Supercopa Rei in 2024. His contract was renewed in March 2025, running to December 2027.

Rafael's route to the Brazil senior team came relatively late. He had already won the South American U-20 Championship in 2009 with 14 caps at that level, but a first call-up to the full national side did not arrive until 2024, when he was named as cover for the injured Ederson ahead of the Copa América. He remained understudy throughout and has yet to win a senior cap. By 2024, his collection of major trophies had put him level with Zinho, with nine titles to his name.