Rafael Santos (footballer, born 5 February 1998)

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

Rafael Santos
Santos 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, Brazil
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Left back
Team information
Current team
Orlando City
Number 9
Youth career
2012–2013 Figueirense
2014–2015 Inter de Limeira
2016–2017 Mirassol
2017Atlético Madrid (youth loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Mirassol 0 (1)
2018Cruzeiro (loan) 1 (0)
2019–2022 Cruzeiro 15 (0)
2020Chapecoense (loan) 5 (0)
2021Inter de Limeira (loan) 0 (0)
2021Ponte Preta (loan) 26 (3)
2022Coritiba (loan) 15 (0)
2023– Orlando City 26 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 November 2023

Club career edit

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]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 25 November 2023.[2][3]
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 MLS 26 1 1 0 1 0 3 0 3[e] 0 34 1
Career total 88 4 7 0 1 0 3 0 41 3 140 7

Honors edit

Chapecoense

Cruzeiro

References edit

  1. ^ "Orlando City SC acquires Brazilian defender Rafael Santos". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  2. ^ "Rafael Santos - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  3. ^ "Rafael Lucas Cardoso dos Santos : oGol". www.ogol.com.br (in Portuguese).