Rafael

Experienced head

Sao Paulo · 37 yrsStarter

21.7

ratings updated 20 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameRafael Pires Monteiro

PositionGoalkeeper

NationalityBrazil

Age37

Date of birth23 Jun 1989

BirthplaceCoronel Fabriciano

Height192 cm

Shirt number#23

ClubSao Paulo

More about Rafael →

Goalkeeper

Season stats

Full career & schedule →

Appearances

Clean sheets

17%

CS rate

share of apps kept clean

2023

Minutes

Domestic-league season · Sao Paulo.

Performance data · by competition

Competition	Apps	Min	Match
Serie A	18	1656	6.74
Paulista - A1	10	900	6.74
CONMEBOL Sudamericana	4	360	6.95
Copa Do Brasil	2	189	6.6

Career

Full career & schedule →

Mineiro 1×10Copa do Brasil×5Serie A×4Supercopa do Brasil×3

Rafael's current-season form is down 65% on last season (Season 31→11), while his Rating held around 22. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 40).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	CS	CS%	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Sao Paulo · 13th	23	4	17%	6.81	22	12
2025/26	Sao Paulo · 8th	35	11	31%	7.1	22	31
2024/25	Sao Paulo · 6th	30	8	27%	7.07	22	25
2023/24	Sao Paulo · 11th	34	11	32%	6.85	24	40
2022/23	Atletico-MG · 7th	1	0	0%	7.3	12	0

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 12 earlier seasons in the full career.

Brazil · international

Side	Apps	G
Brazil U20	7	0

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

Scout report

Experienced headGoalkeeper

Rafael is a 37-year-old goalkeeper at Sao Paulo, rated 21.8 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 269th of 311 on scout potential in the Serie A. A seasoned veteran, he has been an ever-present this season (97.7% of available minutes). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Rafael.

Judged on this season alone, Rafael graded 11 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 16th of 29 of the 29 goalkeepers in the Serie A, on 4 clean sheets across 23 appearances.

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 31 → 11). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has held fairly steady, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 22, 21st of 29 of the 29 goalkeepers in the Serie A. At 37 Rafael is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 2.6 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downBreakout: 2023/24

Current potential21st of 29 goalkeepers · Serie A Current season16th of 29 goalkeepers · Serie A 16th-best goalkeeper in the Serie A 269th in the Serie A · potential 21st-highest potential goalkeeper in the Serie A

21.8

Ratingi

21st of 29 goalkeepers

11.1

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

97.7%

Minutes

near ever-present

0.09

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · Sao Paulo finished 13th of 20 · a mid-table side

Apps

Clean sheets

17%

CS rate

97.7%

Minutes

4 clean sheets in 23 appearances (17% of games).

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 97.7% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

Age curve. At 37, 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 21.8, Rafael carries the 21st-highest potential of the goalkeepers in the Serie A of 29. A near ever-present keeper carrying the gloves this season. Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.5× and falling).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %97.7%

Available fixtures23 of 23

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 900.089

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Pass accuracy %69

Cards / 900.044

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 (~10), then tapers with age. At 37, Rafael sits on 2.6, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Rafael's projected Rating — 21.8 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.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among goalkeepers in the Serie A with 600+ minutes this season.

Goalkeeping

Clean sheets4

Saves59

Save rate69.4%

Goals conceded26

Distribution

Passes551

Pass accuracy69%

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards1

Red cards0

Transfer history

Sao PauloDec 2022 – nowFree

Atletico-MGMar 2020 – Dec 2022Free

Cruzeirountil Mar 2020

About Rafael

Rafael Pires Monteiro is a 37-year-old goalkeeper who plays for Sao Paulo, born on June 23, 1989 in Coronel Fabriciano, standing 192 cm tall. He is from Brazil. Sao Paulo currently sit 13th of 20 in the Serie A.

This season

In the current season, Rafael has made 23 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 2,023 minutes, averaging a 6.78 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 1 yellow card. His season has spanned the Serie A, the Paulista - A1, the CONMEBOL Sudamericana and the Copa Do Brasil.

When Rafael plays, Sao Paulo's record this season is 11W-7D-11L — and his match ratings average 6.81 at home against 6.71 on the road.

Recent matches

August 23, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Chapecoense-sc (90 minutes, 7.5 rating)
August 19, 2026: 3-1 win at home vs Bolívar (90 minutes, 6.3 rating)
August 12, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Bolívar (90 minutes, 6 rating)
August 8, 2026: 1-2 loss away at Gremio (97 minutes, 7 rating)
July 26, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Flamengo (90 minutes, 7.7 rating)
July 23, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs Atletico Paranaense (90 minutes, 6.3 rating)
May 31, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Remo (90 minutes, 6.2 rating)
May 26, 2026: 2-0 win at home vs Boston River (90 minutes, 6.7 rating)
May 23, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Botafogo (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
May 20, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Millonarios (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)

Rafael's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Sao Paulo face RB Bragantino at home in the Serie A.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Rafael at 21.8 with a Season form score of 11.1, ranking 269th of 311 goalkeepers in the Serie A. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 22 career titles — among them the Supercopa do Brasil and the Copa do Brasil. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 17 recorded seasons, Rafael has totalled 191 club appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists for 3 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2025/26, with 35 appearances for Sao Paulo.

Rafael's career has also included time at Atletico-MG and Cruzeiro.

On the international stage, Rafael has represented Brazil U20 — 7 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 · Sao Paulo finished 13th of 20 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points

Outlook

Per 90 & availability

Player flow

Season-by-season progression

Value & potential by age

Season statistics

Goalkeeping

Distribution

Yellow/red cards

Transfer history

About Rafael

This season

Recent matches

Field Insider's view

Career

Transfer news

Related players

Career

Per 90 & availability

Player flow

Season-by-season progression

Value & potential by age

Transfer history

About Rafael

This season

Recent matches

Field Insider's view

Career

Related players