Following his move to AVS, Barbosa's current-season form is level with last season (Season 1→3), while his Rating eased 33→20. His peak season for form remains 2020/21 (Season 28).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Leixoes · 7th	10	0	0	6.5	20	3
2025/26	AVS · 18th	13	1	2	6.59	27	10
2024/25	Radomiak Radom · 12th	9	0	1	6.52	21	3
2024/25	Farense · 17th	9	0	0	6.83	33	1
2023/24	Farense · 10th	32	1	1	6.74	42	13
2022/23	Tondela · 11th	33	5	0	—	48	21
2021/22	Tondela · 17th	29	2	2	6.65	53	24

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 4 earlier seasons and 4 youth-team spells in the full career.

Portugal · international

Side	Apps	G
Portugal U21	1	0
Portugal U17	1	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthBall-winning Defensive midfielder

Rafael Barbosa is a 30-year-old defensive midfielder at Leixoes, rated 19.7 overall by Field Insider's model. An experienced operator, he has been a fringe squad member this season (8.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 5.08 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Barbosa.

On the season, Barbosa graded 3 for current form (age-blind), on 0 goals, 0 assists and 5.081 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 1 → 3). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2020/21.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 20. At 30 Barbosa is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 2.4 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2020/21 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2020/21Holding levelStepped up 2023/24

19.7

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

2.8

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

8.1%

Minutes

limited game time

5.08

Def. actions / 90

high defensive volume

Output in context · Leixoes finished 7th of 18 · a mid-table side

5.08

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

5.08 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — high defensive volume across 10 appearances.

Strengths

Defensive volume. 5.08 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Game time. Only 8.1% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 19.7 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as high defensive volume (5.08 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1× now → 0.7× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %8.1%

Available fixtures10 of 34

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 905.081

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Pass accuracy %67

Dribble success %50

Cards / 901.452

Foul involvement / 906.532

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~5), then tapers with age. At 30, Barbosa sits on 2.4, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Barbosa's projected Rating — 19.7 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Transfer history

Leixoes2025/26 – nowFree

AVS2025/26 – 2025/26Free

Radomiak Radom2024/25 – 2025/26Free

Farense2023/24 – 2024/25

Tondela2020/21 – 2023/24Free

Portimonense(on loan)2018/19 – 2020/21

Pacos Ferreira(on loan)2018/19 – 2018/19

UU. Madeira(on loan)2016/17 – 2018/19

Sporting CP(back from loan)2016/17 – 2016/17

UU. Madeirauntil 2016/17

About Rafael Barbosa

Rafael Avelino Pereira Pinto Barbosa is a 30-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Leixoes, born on March 29, 1996 in Amarante, standing 174 cm tall. He is from Portugal. Leixoes currently sit 7th of 18 in the Segunda Liga.

This season

In the current season, Rafael Barbosa has made 10 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 124 minutes, averaging a 6.58 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 2 yellow cards. His season has spanned the Primeira Liga and the Segunda Liga. Though primarily a defensive midfielder, he has also lined up in attack this season.

When Rafael Barbosa plays, Leixoes's record this season is 3W-3D-11L — and his match ratings average 6.44 at home against 6.66 on the road.

Recent matches

March 22, 2026: 3-2 win at home vs Pacos Ferreira (24 minutes, 6.3 rating)
March 14, 2026: 1-3 loss away at Academico Viseu (13 minutes, 6.3 rating)
February 28, 2026: 1-0 win away at Sporting CP B (67 minutes, 6.5 rating)
February 14, 2026: 2-1 win away at Farense (20 minutes, 6.9 rating)
December 29, 2025: 0-2 loss away at FC Porto (8 minutes, 6.7 rating)
December 21, 2025: 2-2 draw at home vs Nacional (22 minutes, 7.2 rating)
November 28, 2025: 0-4 loss away at Guimaraes (45 minutes, 6.6 rating)
November 2, 2025: 2-2 draw at home vs Tondela (66 minutes, 1 assist, 6.3 rating)
October 25, 2025: 0-2 loss away at Santa Clara (17 minutes, 6.3 rating)
October 4, 2025: 1-3 loss at home vs Alverca (72 minutes, 6.7 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Rafael Barbosa at 19.7 with a Season form score of 2.8. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 4 career titles — among them the Segunda Liga and the Taça da Liga. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 12 recorded seasons, Rafael Barbosa has totalled 293 club appearances with 29 goals and 8 assists for 11 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2017/18, with 34 appearances for Sporting CP B.

Rafael Barbosa's career has also included time at AVS, Radomiak Radom, Farense, Tondela, Portimonense, Pacos Ferreira, UU. Madeira and Sporting CP.

On the international stage, Rafael Barbosa has represented Portugal U21 and Portugal U17 — 2 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Leixoes finished 7th of 18 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points