Rafael Santos Bio
Rafael Lucas Cardoso dos Santos (born 5 February 1998) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Standing at 180 cm, he is known for his work on the left side of defense, combining defensive awareness with the ability to contribute to attacking moves. His career has taken him from his native Brazil to Major League Soccer, where he has competed at the highest domestic level.
Born and raised in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, Santos began his football journey in the youth system of a Brazilian club before working his way up to senior football. Over the years, he has represented several clubs in Brazil and the United States, building a reputation as a reliable and versatile defender.
Early Life and Background
Rafael Lucas Cardoso dos Santos was born on 5 February 1998 in Londrina, a city located in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná. Londrina has produced several professional footballers, and the city’s football culture provided an early environment for Santos to develop an interest in the sport. Growing up in Brazil, he was surrounded by a strong football tradition that encouraged many young players to pursue the game from a young age.
From his early years, Santos showed promise as a footballer, and he eventually joined the academy of Mirassol, a club based in the state of São Paulo. The Mirassol youth system is recognized for developing young talent, and it provided Santos with the platform to refine his skills as a left-back. His development in the academy prepared him for the demands of senior professional football.
Information about his formal education and family background is not publicly available in verified sources. As a Brazilian athlete, his rise through the ranks of club football remains the most documented aspect of his early life.
Path to Soccer
Santos developed through the academy system at Mirassol, where he worked his way up to the senior squad. His professional path began in the Campeonato Paulista, one of Brazil’s traditional state-level competitions, which often serves as a launching pad for young players. The experience of competing at this level allowed him to test himself against experienced professionals and helped shape his approach to the game.
His performances in the Campeonato Paulista attracted attention from bigger clubs in Brazil, leading to a move to Cruzeiro, one of the country’s most storied football institutions. Although Cruzeiro is based in Belo Horizonte, the move represented a significant step up in competition and exposure. Santos initially featured for Cruzeiro’s under-20 team, where he gained valuable experience in tournaments such as the U-20 Copa Libertadores, before eventually breaking into the first team.
His progression from a youth academy prospect to a senior professional in the Brazilian top flight demonstrated his steady development. After establishing himself at Cruzeiro, he went on loan to several other Brazilian clubs, including Chapecoense, Inter de Limeira, Ponte Preta, and Coritiba, where he continued to accumulate senior appearances and further his growth as a defender.
Rafael Santos Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Rafael Santos made his senior debut for Mirassol on 2 July 2017 in the 2017 Campeonato Paulista, playing the full 90 minutes against Ferroviária in a 2–1 defeat. His willingness to complete the entire match in his first senior appearance reflected the trust placed in him by the coaching staff. Later that year, on 27 August 2017, he scored his first senior goal, opening the scoring in a 4–2 win over Penapolense in the same competition.
In 2018, Santos joined Cruzeiro, initially on loan. He made 27 appearances for Cruzeiro’s under-20 team, including matches in the 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores, which gave him exposure to international youth competition. On 14 August 2018, he made his first-team debut for Cruzeiro, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute for David in a 2–0 Série A defeat to Vasco da Gama. This appearance marked his arrival at the top tier of Brazilian football.
Cruzeiro and Brazilian Loans (2019–2022)
Having joined Cruzeiro permanently in 2019, Santos became part of a club with a rich history in Brazilian football. During his time contracted to Cruzeiro, he was sent out on loan to gain first-team experience. He spent time on loan with Chapecoense and later with Inter de Limeira and Ponte Preta in Série B, Brazil’s second division, where he worked to establish himself as a consistent starter.
He also had a loan spell at Coritiba in Série A, the top flight of Brazilian football. Across these various clubs, Santos made a combined 106 senior appearances in all competitions while in Brazil. This period of regular first-team football helped him develop into a more complete defender and prepared him for the next step in his career abroad.
Orlando City Era (2023–2025)
On 5 January 2023, Rafael Santos joined Major League Soccer club Orlando City ahead of the 2023 season, signing a two-year contract with an additional two club option years. The move to MLS represented a new chapter in his career and an opportunity to test himself in a different footballing environment. He quickly adapted to the league and became a regular contributor on the left side of Orlando’s defense.
On 20 May 2023, Santos scored his first goal for Orlando City in a 3–1 win at Inter Miami, assisted by Duncan McGuire. In 2024, he played a role in one of the most memorable moments in Orlando City history. On 9 March 2024, Santos won the ball from Minnesota United and passed it to McGuire, who scored in under thirteen seconds, producing the fastest goal in club history and beating Tesho Akindele’s previous record of 31 seconds. Despite the historic moment, Orlando went on to lose the match 3–2.
Later that season, on 19 April 2024, Santos received a second yellow card in a match at CF Montréal after coming on as a half-time substitute for Kyle Smith. He was later fined by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for failing to leave the field in a timely manner following the red card. These moments reflected both the intensity and the learning curve of his time in Major League Soccer.
Colorado Rapids Era (2025–Present)
On 15 August 2025, Santos was transferred to fellow MLS club Colorado Rapids in exchange for $125,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM), a sell-on percentage, and an additional $200,000 in GAM if performance metrics were met. The move provided him with a fresh opportunity within the league and a new environment in which to continue his development as a professional.
Santos made his debut for the Rapids on 23 August 2025, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute for Sam Vines in a 3–0 defeat to LA Galaxy. Less than a month later, on 27 September 2025, he scored his first goal for Colorado, converting a free kick in a 1–1 draw with Minnesota United. These early contributions suggested a positive start to his time with his new club.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a left-back, Rafael Santos is recognized for his defensive awareness and his ability to support attacking plays down the left flank. His height of 180 cm allows him to compete effectively in aerial duels, while his experience across multiple Brazilian leagues has helped him develop a well-rounded game. His comfort in contributing to build-up play and set pieces has been a notable feature of his time in Major League Soccer.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Santos’s career came on 9 March 2024, when his assist to Duncan McGuire produced the fastest goal in Orlando City history. His first senior goal for Mirassol in 2017 and his first Orlando City goal in 2023 also stand as personal milestones. More recently, his transfer to Colorado Rapids in August 2025 marked a significant new chapter in his professional journey.
Rafael Santos Career Highlights
Rafael Santos has built a steady professional career across Brazilian and American football, accumulating significant senior experience since his debut in 2017. His combined 106 senior appearances for clubs in Brazil highlight the consistency he has maintained throughout his time in South American football.
Club Career Highlights
Santos began his career at Mirassol, where he scored his first senior goal in the Campeonato Paulista. He later moved to Cruzeiro, where he featured in both the under-20 team and the senior squad, before gaining further experience on loan at Chapecoense, Inter de Limeira, Ponte Preta, and Coritiba. In Major League Soccer, he has represented Orlando City and Colorado Rapids, scoring goals for both clubs and contributing to memorable moments such as the fastest goal in Orlando City history.
Other Performances
Beyond his league appearances, Santos has featured in cup competitions in both Brazil and the United States. His participation in the 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores with Cruzeiro’s under-20 team remains one of his notable achievements at the international youth level. Throughout his career, he has been valued for his reliability and his ability to adapt to different tactical systems.
Rafael Santos Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Verified details about Rafael Santos’s family background, including information about his parents, are not publicly available in confirmed sources. His roots in Londrina, Paraná, connect him to a region of Brazil known for producing professional footballers, and he continues to represent his Brazilian heritage through his career in Major League Soccer.
Personal Life
Publicly verified information about Rafael Santos’s personal life, including his marital status, spouse, or children, is not currently available. He maintains a presence on social media, where fans can follow updates about his professional career. Outside of football, limited personal details have been disclosed in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Rafael Santos began the 2025 season with Orlando City, where he continued to feature as a left-back in Major League Soccer. His contributions during the early part of the season reflected his growing familiarity with the demands of the league and his role within the squad. The highlight of his year came on 15 August 2025, when he was transferred to the Colorado Rapids, marking a significant midseason move.
Following his transfer, Santos made his Rapids debut on 23 August 2025 against LA Galaxy and quickly made an impact by scoring his first goal for the club on 27 September 2025 against Minnesota United. These performances suggested a smooth transition to his new environment and indicated that he would play a meaningful role for Colorado in the closing stages of the season.
As the 2025 season progresses, Santos will look to build on his early contributions with the Rapids and establish himself as a key part of the team’s defensive setup. His experience across multiple clubs and competitions positions him well to continue contributing at the Major League Soccer level.