Name Rafael Nascimento Place of birth Sao Paulo, Brazil Role Footballer Height 1.74 m | Number 12 Siblings Thiago Alcantara 2006–2011 Barcelona Nationality Brazilian, Spanish | |
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Full name Rafael Alcantara do Nascimento Date of birth (1993-02-12) 12 February 1993 (age 22) Current team FC Barcelona (#12 / Midfielder) Parents Valeria Alcantara, Mazinho Similar People Thiago Alcantara, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto, Mazinho Profiles | ||
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Rafael Alcántara do Nascimento (born 12 February 1993), commonly known as Rafinha [ʁɐˈfiɲa], is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Brazil national team.
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He started his career with Barcelona, making his debut with the first team in 2011. After a loan at Celta, he played his first La Liga match for the former club in 2014.
Rafinha represented both Spain and Brazil at youth level, before debuting with the latter at senior level in 2015.
Club career
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Rafinha joined FC Barcelona's youth ranks at the age of 13. On 8 January 2011 he made his professional debuts with the B-team, coming on as a substitute for Jonathan dos Santos in the 55th minute of a 1–2 home loss against Girona FC for the Segunda División championship. A week later, again off the bench and for the same competition, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 win at UD Salamanca, also adding an assist.
Rafinha made his debut with the senior Barcelona squad on 9 November 2011, taking the place of Cesc Fàbregas for the last 15 minutes of a 1–0 away win over CE L'Hospitalet for the Copa del Rey. He finished the league season with 39 games – 35 starts – and eight goals for the reserves, including two in a 4–0 success at FC Cartagena on 4 September of the same year.
On 27 June 2013, Rafinha extended his contract with Barça, keeping him at the club until 2016. A few weeks later, he was loaned to fellow La Liga team Celta de Vigo, and made his debut in the Spanish top flight on 19 August, helping the Galicians to a 2–2 home draw against RCD Espanyol. He scored his first league goal 12 days later in another draw at the Balaídos (1–1, with Granada CF).
Rafinha netted a brace at Real Sociedad on 23 November 2013, but it amounted to nothing as the hosts won 4–3 with four goals from Carlos Vela. He was voted the league's Breakthrough Player of the Season, ahead of Real Madrid's Jesé and Rayo Vallecano's Saúl.
Rafinha made his league debut for Barcelona on 24 August 2014 in Luis Enrique's first match in charge, playing the first half of an eventual 3–0 win over Elche CF at the Camp Nou before being replaced by Marc Bartra. On 25 November, he assisted Lionel Messi's goal in a 4–0 group stage triumph at APOEL FC, which made him the outright top scorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League; however, he was also sent off for two bookings later on in the match.
Rafinha scored his first goal for the Blaugrana on 3 December 2014, concluding a 4–0 away win against SD Huesca in the first leg of the Spanish Cup's last 32 (12–1 aggregate). The following 1 February, he recorded his first goal for the team in the domestic league, part of a 3–2 home triumph over Villarreal CF. They went on to win the treble, with the player being an unused substitute in the domestic and European finals.
With compatriot Neymar out through illness, Rafinha started on the left of Barcelona's attack in the 2015 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla FC in Tbilisi, scoring Barcelona's third goal in a 5–4 win. On 16 September he suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament during the 1–1 away draw to A.S. Roma for the Champions League group phase, leaving the game on a stretcher after being on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Radja Nainggolan; after surgery, he was expected to be out for about six months.
International career
Rafinha played for Spain at youth level, gaining 14 caps for three different teams. On 29 February 2012, he scored for the under-19s in the first minute of their 2–1 friendly win over France in Meaux.
Later that year, however, Rafinha switched allegiance to Brazil, going on to represent the under-20 side at the 2013 South American Youth Championship in Argentina. He was one of seven stand-by players named by Dunga for the senior team at the 2015 Copa América.
In September 2015, Rafinha was called up by Dunga for friendlies against Costa Rica and the United States. On 5 September, he entered the former game at New Jersey's Red Bull Arena in the 81st minute in place of Luiz Gustavo. Four days later, a minute after taking the field against the latter, he scored his first goal, then assisted clubmate Neymar in a 4–1 win.
Personal life
Rafinha's father, Mazinho, was also a footballer and a midfielder, notably winning the 1994 FIFA World Cup with Brazil. His mother Valéria played volleyball, while his elder brother, Thiago – another midfielder – also emerged through Barcelona's youth ranks, going on to represent its first team and the Spain national side.
Rodrigo, who played youth football with Real Madrid and went on to spend several seasons with S.L. Benfica, is Rafinha's cousin.