Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Benfica.
Injury-affected season
Missed 5 of Benfica's ~34 games this season through 5 injury absences (inactive, hip). He still appeared 16 times — a solid return given how little of the season he was available. His rating is judged mainly on the games he was fit to play.
Also this season
Earlier this season at Beşiktaş — UEFA Europa Conference League: 2 apps, 0g 2a, 366 min
The headline Season rating covers his time at Benfica; availability counts only fixtures while in this squad.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Primeira Liga | 16 | 5 | 0 | 937 | 6.95 |
 Süper Ligat Beşiktaş | 10 | 5 | 1 | 820 | 7.27 |
 UEFA Europa Conference Leagueat Beşiktaş | 2 | 0 | 2 | 366 | 6.63 |
 UEFA Champions League | 2 | 1 | 0 | 164 | 6.7 |
 Friendlies Clubsat Beşiktaş | 4 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 6.6 |
 UEFA Europa Leagueat Beşiktaş | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Scout report
Rafa is a 33-year-old attacking midfielder at Benfica, enjoying a standout season — 5 goals and 0 assists in 16 appearances, a Season grade of 22, top 79% of Primeira Liga attacking midfielders. On long-term scout potential he's rated 18.6, ranking 318th of 336 in the Primeira Liga. A seasoned veteran, he has been a rotation option (35.9% of available minutes). He brings 0.48 goal contributions per 90 (0.48 goals, 0 assists). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Rafa.
Judged on this season alone, Rafa graded 22 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 11th of 14 of the 14 attacking midfielders in the Primeira Liga, on 5 goals and 0 assists in 16 appearances (0.48 involvements per 90).
Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 48 → 22). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 19, 13th of 14 of the 14 attacking midfielders in the Primeira Liga. At 33 Rafa is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 4.1 reflects that trajectory.
Read the appearance count in context: Rafa missed 5 games through injury (inactive, hip) out of roughly 34 this season. The 16 he did play is a solid return on the time he was fit, and his ratings are weighted toward those games rather than the ones he sat out injured.
Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.
Output in context · Benfica finished 3rd of 18 · an upper-table side
5 goals in 16 appearances (0.31 per game) for an upper-table side.
Strengths
- Final-third output. 0.48 goal contributions per 90 (0.48 goals, 0 assists) — productive for the role.
Watch points
- Game time. Only 35.9% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
- Defensive numbers. Modest 1.44 defensive actions per 90 for the position.
- Age curve. At 33, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 18.6, Rafa carries the 13th-highest potential of the attacking midfielders in the Primeira Liga of 14. In the final third he profiles as a productive contributor (0.48 goal contributions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.7× and falling).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Season statistics
Bars = where he ranks among attacking midfielders in the Primeira Liga with 600+ minutes this season.
Shooting
Passing
Defending
Yellow/red cards
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
