Rafinha

A priceless photograph of Rafa and his brother Thiago driving a minibus from their days as toddlers.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, he joined Spanish club Barcelona's youth academy at the age of 13. On 8 January 2011 he made his for Barça B, coming on as a substitute in a 1-2 defeat against Girona in a Segunda División match. He made his debut for the senior squad 10 months later, playing the last 15 minutes in a 1-0 win over Hospitalet in a Copa del Rey fixture. The Brazilian was loaned out to fellow La Liga club Celta Vigo to gain exposure of playing regular first-team football during the 2013/14 season. He made his La Liga debut on 19 August 2013, helping the Galicians to a 2-2 draw against Espanyol. He scored his first league goal 12 days later in a 1-1 draw against Granada. He made 32 league appearances, scoring 4 and assisting 7 goals, and was voted the league's "Breakthrough Player of the Season". On his return to his parent club for the 2014/15, he made his league debut for the Blaugrana on 24 August 2014, playing the first half in a 3-0 win over Elche at the Camp Nou. He scored his first goal for Barça on 3 December 2014, concluding a 4-0 win over Huesca in the Spanish Cup. Between 2011-2018, the Brazilian has represented the Catalan giants 88 times in all competitions, scoring 12 and assisting 8 goals. During this time he has won: 3 La Liga (2014/15, 2015/16, 2018/19), 5 Copa del Rey (2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18); and UEFA Champions League (2014/15).