View source for Rafael Carioca

{{short description|Brazilian footballer}}
{{other people}}
{{Portuguese name|de Souza|Pereira}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rafael Carioca
| image = Rafael Carioca 6342.jpg
| upright = 0.9
| caption = Carioca with [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]] in 2010
| full_name = Rafael de Souza Pereira
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|6|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil
| height = 1.85 m
| position = [[Defensive midfielder]]
| currentclub = 
| clubnumber = 
| youthyears1 = 2004–2005 | youthclubs1 = [[Audax Rio de Janeiro Esporte Clube|Sendas]]
| youthyears2 = 2006 | youthclubs2 = Profute
| youthyears3 = 2006–2008 | youthclubs3 = [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]]
| years1 = 2008      | clubs1 = [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]] | caps1 = 34  | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009–2014 | clubs2 = [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]]        | caps2 = 126 | goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2010      | clubs3 = → [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] (loan) | caps3 = 52  | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2014–2017 | clubs4 = [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]] | caps4 = 169 | goals4 = 5
| years5 = 2017–2025     | clubs5 = [[Tigres UANL]]                             | caps5 = 269 | goals5 = 5
| club-update = 1 December 2024
}}

'''Rafael de Souza Pereira''' (18 June 1989), known as '''Rafael Carioca''', is a Brazilian professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[defensive midfielder]].

==Club career==
===Grêmio===
Born in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Rafael Carioca joined [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]]'s youth setup in 2006, from Profute.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCiZmdZOssAC&q=%22Rafael+Carioca%22+Gr%C3%AAmio+2006+Profute&pg=PA83|title=Direito de resposta|trans-title=Right of reply|work=[[Placar]]|language=pt-BR|date=June 2007|page=83|quote=Na esteira do sucesso de Anderson, Lucas e Carlos Eduardo, o Grêmio ainda prepara para a próxima temporada a apresentação de sua mais nova pérola: Rafael Carioca, um segundo volante de 18 anos que veio do ProFute, do Rio de Janeiro. Em menos de um ano no Olímpico, ele já foi eleito craque de dois campeonatos que o clube participou: a Copa Santiago e a Punta Camp (disputada em Punta del Este, no Uruguai).|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> Promoted to the first team after captaining the under-20 side in the 2008 [[Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior]] by [[Vágner Mancini]], he was subsequently relegated back to the youth sides, as the manager complained about his attitude.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Times/Gremio/0,,MUL611612-9868,00-RAFAEL+CARIOCA+NAO+ENTENDE+MA+FAMA+DOS+TEMPOS+DE+VAGNER+MANCINI.html|title=Rafael Carioca não entende má fama dos tempos de Vagner Mancini|trans-title=Rafael Carioca does not get bad reputation in Vagner Mancini's times|publisher=[[Globo Esporte]]|language=pt|date=24 June 2008|access-date=9 January 2009}}</ref>

Promoted back to the main squad in March 2008 by new manager [[Celso Roth]], Rafael Carioca made his first team debut on 26 March, coming on as a [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] for [[Eduardo Martins Nunes|Nunes]] in a 4–1 [[Campeonato Gaúcho]] away routing of [[Clube 15 de Novembro|15 de Novembro]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/Futebol/Gremio/0,,MUL364287-4411,00-RESERVAS+TRICOLORES+ATROPELAM+O.html|title=Reservas tricolores atropelam o 15|trans-title=Reserve team of ''tricolor'' thrash 15|publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt-BR|date=26 March 2008|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> He made his [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]] debut on 10 May, starting in a 1–0 away win against [[São Paulo FC|São Paulo]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas/2008/05/10/ult59u156466.jhtm|title=Na estréia do BR, São Paulo sucumbe ante o Grêmio no Morumbi|trans-title=In ''BR's'' debut, São Paulo fall against Grêmio at the Morumbi|publisher=[[Universo Online|UOL Esporte]]|language=pt-BR|date=10 May 2008|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> and finished [[2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|the campaign]] as a first-choice in the central midfield, creating a strong partnership with [[Willian Henrique Antunes|William Magrão]] and appearing in 34 matches.

===Spartak Moscow===
In December 2008, Rafael Carioca joined Russian club [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]] on a five-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01d4-0e709c69051a-c02ec1022c19-1000--rafael-carioca-thrilled-to-join-spartak/|title=Rafael Carioca thrilled to join Spartak|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=15 December 2008|access-date=26 December 2008}}</ref> He made his debut abroad on 15 March, starting in a 1–1 home draw against [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit Saint Petersburg]].

Rafael Carioca spent the 2010 season on loan at [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clicrbs.com.br/especial/sc/qualidade-de-vida-sc/19,0,2774021,Vasco-apresenta-volante-Rafael-Carioca.html|title=Vasco apresenta volante Rafael Carioca|trans-title=Vasco present defensive midfielder Rafael Carioca|publisher=Clic RBS|language=pt-BR|date=10 January 2010|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> being an undisputed starter. Upon returning, he also became a first-choice, and scored his first professional goal on 6 May 2012, netting the winner in a 3–2 away defeat of Zenit.

===Atlético Mineiro===
On 13 August 2014, Rafael Carioca returned to his home country after being presented at [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]], agreeing to a year-long loan deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atletico.com.br/rafael-carioca-espera-conquistar-titulos-com-a-camisa-alvinegra/|title=Rafael Carioca espera conquistar títulos com a camisa alvinegra|trans-title=Rafael Carioca hopes to win titles with the black-and-white shirt|publisher=Clube Atlético Mineiro|language=pt-BR|date=13 August 2014|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> Upon arriving, he became a first-choice player in Atlético's team that went on to win that year's [[2014 Copa do Brasil|Copa do Brasil]], overcoming longtime incumbent .

Rafael Carioca had a solid start in the following season, which included an impressive goal against [[Colo-Colo]] in the [[2015 Copa Libertadores|Copa Libertadores]] and a [[Campeonato Mineiro]] win, again as a part of the team's starting eleven. On 21 July 2015, Atlético bought 50% of Rafael Carioca's federative rights, agreeing to a permanent four-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/br/futebol/2015/07/21/atletico-mg/516261-atletico-mg-oficializa-compra-de-direitos-do-volante-rafael-carioca-e-lateral-douglas-santos.html|title=Atlético-MG oficializa compra de direitos do volante Rafael Carioca e lateral Douglas Santos|trans-title=Atlético-MG make official the purchase of defensive midfielder Rafael Carioca and full back Douglas Santos' rights|publisher=[[Vavel]]|language=pt-BR|date=21 July 2015|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref>

===Tigres UANL===
On 25 August 2017, Rafael Carioca joined [[Liga MX]] club [[Tigres UANL]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.com.br/noticia/721604_atletico-mg-confirma-venda-de-rafael-carioca-ao-tigres-mex-orgulho-de-ter-vestido-essa-camisa|title=Atlético-MG confirma venda de Rafael Carioca ao Tigres-MEX: 'Orgulho de ter vestido essa camisa'|trans-title=Atlético-MG confirm sale of Rafael Carioca to Tigres-MEX: 'Proud of having worn this shirt'|publisher=[[ESPN Brasil]]|language=pt-BR|date=25 August 2017|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> In his first season, he played the historical final against rivals [[C.F. Monterrey]]. In the first leg the teams tied by 1–1 at the [[Estadio Universitario (UANL)|Estadio Universitario]]. In the [[Estadio BBVA Bancomer]], Tigres beat Monterrey by 2–1 with goals of [[Edu Vargas]] and [[Francisco Meza]], as Rafael Carioca played a key role by assisting Meza with a cross from the right wing to score the second goal. Besides, in a successful six-year career so far with Tigres, he has won the 2018 and 2023 [[Campeón de Campeones]]; 2020 [[CONCACAF Champions Cup]]; 2020 [[Campeones Cup]] and Clausura 2019 and Clausura 2023 season of the Mexican League, besides, runner-ups of the 2020 [[FIFA Club World Cup]] against [[Bayern Munich]].

On 23 May 2025, Tigres UANL bid farewell to Carioca.

==International career==
In 2007, Rafael Carioca captained the [[Brazil national under-20 football team|Brazil under-20 side]] and featured in the Sendai Cup for the [[Brazil national under-18 football team|under-18s]] in the same year, but was an unused substitute in the tournament. He received his first international call-up for the [[Brazil national football team|senior squad]] on 22 August 2016, for matches against [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]] and [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://selecao.cbf.com.br/noticias/selecao-masculina/primeira-lista-de-convocados-do-tecnico-tite#.V7sjYU0rLiw|title=Primeira lista de convocados do técnico Tite|trans-title=First call-up list by head coach Tite|date=12 August 2016|website=[[Brazilian Football Confederation]]|access-date=22 August 2016|language=pt}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{{updated|match played 2 November 2024}}<ref>{{Soccerway|rafael-de-souza-pereira/33519|accessdate=11 July 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|State league{{efn|Includes [[Campeonato Gaúcho]], [[Campeonato Carioca]], [[Campeonato Mineiro]]}}
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Copa do Brasil]], [[Russian Cup (football)|Russian Cup]], [[Copa MX]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[Grêmio FBPA|Grêmio]]
|[[2008 in Brazilian football|2008]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gremiopedia.com/wiki/S%C3%BAmulas_do_Gr%C3%AAmio_em_2008|title=Súmulas do Grêmio em 2008|trans-title=2008 Grêmio's match reports|publisher=Grêmiopédia|language=pt-BR|access-date=9 January 2019|archive-date=10 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110073948/https://www.gremiopedia.com/wiki/S%C3%BAmulas_do_Gr%C3%AAmio_em_2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]]
|34||0||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||0
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]]
|[[2009 Russian Premier League|2009]]
|rowspan="6"|[[Russian Premier League]]
|23||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||0
|-
|[[2010–11 Russian Cup|2010–11]]
|0||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||7||0
|-
|[[2011–12 FC Spartak Moscow season|2011–12]]
|23||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||2{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||27||0
|-
|[[2012–13 FC Spartak Moscow season|2012–13]]
|27||1||colspan="2"|—||2||0||8{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||1||colspan="2"|—||37||2
|-
|[[2013–14 FC Spartak Moscow season|2013–14]]
|26||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||2{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||30||0
|-
|[[2014–15 FC Spartak Moscow season|2014–15]]
|1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!100!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!9!!0!!17!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!126!!2
|-
|[[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] (loan)
|[[2010 in Brazilian football|2010]]
|Série A
|34||0||11||0||7||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||52||0
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]]
|[[2014 in Brazilian football|2014]]
|rowspan="4"|Série A
|9||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||0
|-
|[[2015 in Brazilian football|2015]]
|36||0||13||1||2||0||8{{efn|name=COL|Appearances in [[Copa Libertadores]]}}||1||colspan="2"|—||59||2
|-
|[[2016 in Brazilian football|2016]]
|27||1||11||1||7||0||9{{efn|name=COL}}||1||1{{efn|name=PRL|Appearance(s) in [[Primeira Liga (Brazil)|Primeira Liga]]}}||0||56||3
|-
|[[2017 in Brazilian football|2017]]
|18||0||13||0||3||0||7{{efn|name=COL}}||0||2{{efn|name=PRL}}||0||43||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!90!!1!!37!!2!!15!!0!!24!!2!!3!!0!!169!!5
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Tigres UANL|UANL]]
|[[2017–18 Tigres UANL season|2017–18]]
|rowspan="8"|[[Liga MX]]
|35||2||colspan="2"|—||1||0||3{{efn|name=CCL|Appearances in [[CONCACAF Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||39||2
|-
|[[2018–19 Tigres UANL season|2018–19]]
|39||1||colspan="2"|—||2||0||8{{efn|name=CCL}}||0||2{{efn|One appearance in [[Campeón de Campeones]], one appearance in [[Campeones Cup]]}}||0||51||1
|-
|[[2019–20 Tigres UANL season|2019–20]]
|28||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=CCL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||34||2
|-
|[[2020–21 Tigres UANL season|2020–21]]
|33||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|Appearances in [[FIFA Club World Cup]]}}||0||36||0
|-
|[[2021–22 Liga MX season|2021–22]]
|41||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Leagues Cup]]}}||0||42||0
|-
|[[2022–23 Liga MX season|2022–23]]
|41||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=CCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||47||0
|-
|[[2023–24 Tigres UANL season|2023–24]]
|38||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|name=CCC|Appearances in [[CONCACAF Champions Cup]]}}||0||6{{efn|One appearance in Campeón de Campeones, one appearance in Campeones Cup, four appearances in Leagues Cup}}||0||48||1
|-
|[[2024–25 Tigres UANL season|2024–25]]
|13||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||4{{efn|One appearance in [[2024 Supercopa de la Liga MX|Supercopa de la Liga MX]], three appearances in Leagues Cup}}||0||17||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!268!!5!!colspan="2"|—!!3!!0!!27!!1!!16!!0!!314!!6
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!526!!7!!50!!2!!35!!0!!68!!4!!19!!0!!696!!13
|}
{{notelist}}

==Honours==

'''Atlético Mineiro'''
*[[Copa do Brasil]]: [[2014 Copa do Brasil|2014]]
*[[Campeonato Mineiro]]: [[2015 Campeonato Mineiro|2015]], [[2017 Campeonato Mineiro|2017]]

'''Tigres UANL'''
*[[Liga MX]]: [[2017–18 Liga MX season#Torneo Apertura|Apertura 2017]], [[2018–19 Liga MX season#Torneo Clausura|Clausura 2019]], [[2022–23 Liga MX season#Torneo Clausura|Clausura 2023]]
*[[Campeón de Campeones]]: [[2018 Campeón de Campeones|2018]], [[2023 Campeón de Campeones|2023]]
*[[CONCACAF Champions League]]: [[2020 CONCACAF Champions League|2020]]
*[[Campeones Cup]]: [[2018 Campeones Cup|2018]], [[2023 Campeones Cup|2023]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year]]: [[2015 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|2015]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Vencedores do Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão 2015 |url=http://www.cbf.com.br/noticias/campeonato-brasileiro-serie-a/vencedores-do-premio-craque-brasileirao-2015?ref=more#.VmbqKrgrLiw |date=30 November 2015 |access-date=8 December 2015 |publisher=[[Confederação Brasileira de Futebol]]| language=pt}}</ref>
*[[CONCACAF Champions League]] Team of the Tournament: [[2019 CONCACAF Champions League#Awards|2019]]<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League|user=TheChampions |number=1124021294750732288 |title=Presenting the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League 2019 Team of the Tournament!|date=2 May 2019 |access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerway|rafael-de-souza-pereira/33519}}

{{Navboxes
|title= Awards
|bg= gold
|fg= black
|list1=
{{2015 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year}}
{{2015 Bola de Prata}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carioca, Rafael}}
[[Category:1989 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Rio de Janeiro (city)]]
[[Category:Brazilian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players]]
[[Category:Grêmio FBPA players]]
[[Category:CR Vasco da Gama players]]
[[Category:Clube Atlético Mineiro players]]
[[Category:Russian Premier League players]]
[[Category:FC Spartak Moscow players]]
[[Category:Liga MX players]]
[[Category:Tigres UANL footballers]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Russia]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriates in Mexico]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Champions Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:21st-century Brazilian sportsmen]]