ratings updated 20 Aug 2026
Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · St. Louis City.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Major League Soccer | 13 | 1 | 1 | 949 | 6.72 |
Scout report
Rafael Santos is a 28-year-old central midfielder at St. Louis City, rated 29.4 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 286th of 436 on scout potential in the Major League Soccer. An experienced operator, he has been a rotation option this season (51.2% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 1.86 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Santos.
Judged on this season alone, Santos graded 20 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 56th of 71 of the 71 central midfielders in the Major League Soccer, on 1 goal, 1 assist and 1.86 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 11 → 20). Over the 5 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2023/24.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 29, 53rd of 71 of the 71 central midfielders in the Major League Soccer. At 28 Santos is in his prime years, and a market index of 3.7 reflects that trajectory.
Below his 2023/24 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.
Output in context · St. Louis City finished 6th of 15 · a mid-table side
1.86 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 14 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.19 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central midfielder.
Watch points
- Game time. Only 51.2% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
- Defensive numbers. Modest 1.86 defensive actions per 90 for the position.
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 29.4, Santos carries the 53rd-highest potential of the central midfielders in the Major League Soccer of 71 — though on just 14 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (1.86 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.2× now → 0.9× projected in three years).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Season statistics
Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the Major League Soccer with 600+ minutes this season.
Shooting
Passing
Possession
Defending
Yellow/red cards
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
