Bio

Rafael Pires Monteiro (born 23 June 1989), known simply as Rafael, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for São Paulo. Rafael joined the youth ranks of Cruzeiro in 2002 and received his first call up to the first team squad six years later. He made his professional debut on 30 January 2010, in a Campeonato Mineiro 3–0 defeat to Ipatinga. On 4 December 2011, he was in the starting lineup in one of Cruzeiro's most famed Clássico Mineiro wins, in which they beat rivals Atlético Mineiro 6–1 in the last round of that year's Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and avoided relegation. During Cruzeiro's 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A campaign, Rafael served as the main goalkeeper, while the first choice and club captain Fábio recovered from a long-term injury. During the first months of 2017, he and Fábio battled for the spot, with Rafael starting in most of the 2017 Campeonato Mineiro matches. On 3 March 2020, Rafael joined Atlético Mineiro on a three-year deal. On 8 December 2022, Rafael signed a three-year deal with São Paulo.