Leonardo Rafael dos Santos (born 25 April 2001), known as Léo Rafael, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ceará.

Léo Rafael
Personal information
Full name Leonardo Rafael dos Santos
Date of birth (2001-04-25) 25 April 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Campinas, Brazil
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Ceará
Number 80
Youth career
2016 Barretos
2017 Rio Claro
2017–2018 Juventude
2018–2019 Bragantino
2021 Ceará
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Grêmio Osasco 6 (1)
2020–2021 Caldense 4 (0)
2021– Ceará 4 (1)
2023América-RN (loan) 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 October 2023

Club career

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Born in Campinas, São Paulo, Léo Rafael played youth football for Barretos, Rio Claro, Juventude and Bragantino, leaving the latter in 2019 when the club merged with Red Bull Brasil.[1] He subsequently joined Grêmio Osasco, and made his senior debut during the 2019 Copa Paulista.

On 12 September 2020, Léo Rafael signed for Caldense.[2] The following 17 March, he moved to Ceará, being initially assigned to the under-20 squad.[1]

On 6 September 2021, Léo Rafael renewed his contract with Ceará for a further year.[3] He was promoted to the first team on 27 December,[4] and made his first team debut for the club the following 22 February, starting in a 2–1 Campeonato Cearense home win over Iguatu.[5]

Léo Rafael made his Série A debut on 17 April 2022, coming on as a late substitute for Richard in a 1–3 home loss against Botafogo.[6]

Career statistics

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As of 18 April 2022[7]
Club Season League State League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Grêmio Osasco 2019 Paulista A3 0 0 8[a] 1 8 1
2020 6 1 6 1
Total 6 1 8 1 14 2
Caldense 2020 Série D 2 0 2 0 4 0
Ceará 2021 Série A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 4[b] 0 8 0
Total 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 8 0
Career total 3 0 9 1 2 0 0 0 12 1 26 2
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Paulista
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa do Nordeste

Honours

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Ceará

References

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  1. ^ a b "Léo Rafael é o novo reforço do sub-20 do Ceará" [Léo Rafael is the new addition of the under-20s of Ceará] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Esporte News Mundo. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Caldense confirma mais seis reforços para a disputa da Série D" [Caldense confirm six more additions for the Série D] (in Brazilian Portuguese). AA Caldense. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Com multa altíssima, Ceará renova contrato do meia do Sub-20 Léo Rafael" [With a very high release clause, Ceará renew contract of the midfielder of the under-20s Léo Rafael] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Meia Léo Rafael será integrado ao Ceará de Tiago Nunes" [Léo Rafael will integrated into Tiago Nunes' Ceará] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Técnico do Ceará explica opção e elogia Léo Rafael após titularidade: 'Tem se destacado" [Ceará manager explains option and praises Léo Rafael after starting spot: 'He has been standing out'] (in Brazilian Portuguese). NE45. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Com dois de Erison, Botafogo bate Ceará por 3 a 1 e vence a primeira no Brasileirão" [With two goals from Erison, Botafogo defeat Ceará by 3–1 and win the first one in the Brasileirão] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 17 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  7. ^ Léo Rafael at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
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