He made a name for himself at Schalke and won every major title with FC Bayern. Now, at the age of 39, Rafinha has ended his career, in which he also rubbed some people the wrong way on occasion.
Anyone who followed the 2005 U-20 World Cup closely knew that Rafinha was no longer an insider tip. The Brazilian right-back was one of the outstanding players of the tournament (seven games, two goals), even though the Selecao ultimately only finished third. But by now, the name of the small and feisty right-back with his then shoulder-length hair was eagerly noted in the scouts’ notebooks.
Schalke won the race. Rafinha immediately made an impact at the Royal Blues and became one of the crowd favorites thanks to his strength in tackles, enthusiasm, and technical finesse. He never remained completely scandal-free throughout his career: in 2008, he skipped Schalke’s training camp to participate in the Olympics for Brazil. The result was a bronze medal – and a six-figure fine. In five years, he played 198 games (eleven goals) for the Royal Blues.
However, he only won club titles with FC Bayern, moving to the German record champions in 2011 after a year-long spell in Italy with CFC Genoa. Seven league titles, four DFB Cup wins, plus Champions League winner and World Cup winner in 2013 – Rafinha, who could also play on the left side of defense, won everything there was to win. In 2019, he left Munich after 266 games (six goals) and, after a few detours, finally returned to where it all began: his youth club Coritiba.
Rafinha was still playing there at the ripe old age of 39, but his active career came to an end with a bang in March. He claimed he had to travel to Munich for a hearing and instead took part in a FC Bayern legends game. His contract was subsequently terminated, with Rafinha taking “full responsibility.”
Rafinha’s acknowledgments – A curious career in the Selecao
Rafinha has now hung up his boots for good. “Today is the final whistle for me on the pitch. It’s time to officially say goodbye to the soccer field, and I do so with a calm heart and full of gratitude,“ he wrote on Instagram. ”I am grateful to Coritiba for opening its doors to me at the beginning. Schalke, which believed in a boy from Brazil. FC Bayern, which was my home for so many years and where I won everything in soccer. Flamengo, where I experienced the highlight of my career in my country. FC Sao Paulo, a club close to my heart, where I had the opportunity to win an unprecedented title for the club. Olympiacos Piraeus and Gremio!” With Flamengo, he won the 2019 Copa Libertadores, among other things, and he helped Sao Paulo win its first ever Brazilian Cup title in 2023.
Rafinha also made four appearances for the Brazilian national team, with unusually long breaks in between. He made his debut in March 2008 and made his second appearance six years later. His last two international appearances for the Selecao followed in June 2017. Rafinha has also held a German passport since the end of 2015, but was not eligible to play for the DFB team because he had played in the aforementioned 2005 U-20 World Cup.
“I take with me memories, experiences, friendships, and a history that I will always be proud to talk about,” Rafinha concluded in his farewell letter. “Today, I am closing a chapter as a player. But my love for soccer is eternal. A new chapter is beginning in my life: off the pitch.”
