Rafa Soares

Rafa Soares
Personal information
Full name Luís Rafael Soares Alves
Date of birth (1995-05-09) 9 May 1995 (age 31)
Place of birth Marco de Canaveses, Portugal
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Estrela Amadora
Number 55
Youth career
2003–2005 Alpendorada
2005–2014 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2018 Porto B 61 (8)
2016 → Académica (loan) 15 (1)
2016–2017 → Rio Ave (loan) 32 (3)
2017–2018 → Fulham (loan) 3 (0)
2018 Portimonense 11 (0)
2018–2022 Vitória Guimarães 67 (1)
2020–2021 → Eibar (loan) 25 (0)
2022–2024 PAOK 40 (2)
2024–2026 Famalicão 50 (1)
2026– Estrela Amadora 3 (0)
International career
2010–2011 Portugal U16 11 (0)
2011–2012 Portugal U17 12 (1)
2012 Portugal U18 3 (0)
2012–2014 Portugal U19 30 (2)
2014 Portugal U20 7 (0)
2014–2016 Portugal U21 9 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Runner-up2014 Hungary
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:30, 30 August 2026 (UTC)

Luís Rafael "Rafa" Soares Alves (born 9 May 1995) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Primeira Liga club Estrela da Amadora.

Club career

Porto

Born in Marco de Canaveses, Porto District, Soares joined FC Porto's youth system in 2005 from local F.C. Alpendorada. On 21 August 2013, while still a junior, he made his professional debut with the former's reserves, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in a 1–0 away win against Portimonense S.C. in the Segunda Liga.

From January 2016 to June 2017, Soares was on loan to Académica de Coimbra and Rio Ave FC, with both clubs in the Primeira Liga. He played his first game in the competition on 22 January 2016 while at service of the former in a 2–1 away loss to Vitória de Setúbal, and scored his first goal the following matchday but in a 3–2 defeat at Sporting CP.

On 22 August 2017, deemed surplus to requirements by new Porto manager Sérgio Conceição, Soares was loaned to EFL Championship side Fulham in a season-long deal. He made his debut on 31 October, coming from the bench in a 0–2 home loss to Bristol City.

Soares' deal was mutually terminated by on 31 January 2018, after they had loaned Matt Targett earlier that month. The same day, he signed a permanent contract with Portimonense in his country's top flight.

Vitória Guimarães

On 6 July 2018, Soares agreed to a contract at Vitória de Guimarães. On 31 January 2020, he joined SD Eibar of Spain's La Liga on an 18-month loan with the option to buy.

After returning from the relegated Basque team, Soares scored his first Vitória goal on 21 November 2021, as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat at neighbours Moreirense F.C. in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal.

PAOK

In June 2022, Soares signed a three-year deal with Super League Greece club PAOK FC. He totalled 33 games in his first season, finishing runner-up in the domestic cup.

Soares scored his first league goal on 25 November 2023, closing the 5–0 home win over Panserraikos FC. He added another in a 3–0 victory against PAS Lamia 1964, claiming the national championship alongside his compatriots André Ricardo and Vieirinha.

Later career

On 2 September 2024, Soares agreed to a two-year contract at F.C. Famalicão. He made 28 appearances in his debut campaign, but lost his place to Angolan international Pedro Bondo midway through 2025–26 only to regain it again.

Soares signed a two-year deal with fellow top-division side C.F. Estrela da Amadora on 22 July 2026.

International career

Soares earned 72 caps for Portugal at youth level. He made his debut for the under-21 side on 13 November 2014, in a 3–1 friendly defeat against England.

Career statistics

As of match played 24 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Porto B 2013–14 Segunda Liga 111———111
2014–15 302———302
2015–16 205———205
Total 618———618
Académica (loan) 2015–16 Primeira Liga 151———151
Rio Ave (loan) 2016–17 Primeira Liga 323—3020373
Fulham (loan) 2017–18 Championship 30———30
Portimonense 2017–18 Primeira Liga 110———110
Vitória Guimarães 2018–19 Primeira Liga 2702010—300
2019–20 100101050170
2021–22 3012120—342
Total 671514050812
Eibar (loan) 2019–20 La Liga 60———60
2020–21 19030——220
Total 25030——280
PAOK 2022–23 Super League Greece 26050—20330
2023–24 12240—50212
Total 38290—70542
Career Total 252153717014031016

Honours

Porto B

PAOK

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Rafa Soares" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Rafa Soares: "Tudo começou no FC Alpendorada"" [Rafa Soares: "It all started at FC Alpendorada"]. A Verdade (in Portuguese). 2 April 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Portimonense-FC Porto B, 0–1: O "miúdo" deu 3 pontos" [Portimonense-FC Porto B, 0–1: The "kid" gave 3 points]. Record (in Portuguese). 21 August 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  4. ↑ "Oficial: Académica anuncia Rafa por empréstimo do FC Porto" [Official: Académica announce Rafa on loan from FC Porto] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Dragões emprestam Rafa ao Rio Ave" [Dragons loan Rafa to Rio Ave] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "V. Setúbal-Académica, 2–1 (resultado final)" [V. Setúbal-Académica, 2–1 (final score)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Sporting 3–2 Académica: jogo pleno de emoções, muitos golos e incerteza até perto do fim" [Sporting 3–2 Académica: game full of excitement, many goals and uncertainty until the last minutes] (in Portuguese). Vavel. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  8. ↑ "Rafa Soares: Fulham complete loan signing of Porto left-back". BBC Sport. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  9. ↑ "Fulham 0–2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "Soares loan terminated". Fulham F.C. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Rafa Soares assina pelo Portimonense a título definitivo" [Rafa Soares signs permanently with Portimonense]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 31 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "Rafa Soares ruma ao Vitória de Guimarães" [Rafa Soares heading to Vitória de Guimarães]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  13. ↑ Mendia, Iker (31 January 2020). "El Eibar ficha al lateral izquierdo Rafa Soares procedente del Vitoria Guimaraes" [Eibar sign left-back Rafa Soares from Vitória Guimarães]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  14. ↑ "Moreirense elimina V. Guimarães da Taça" [Moreirense eliminate V. Guimarães from the Cup] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "Έρχεται ο Σοάρες, από… κοντά και ο Ρέντε για ΠΑΟΚ" [Soares coming, Rende expected at PAOK] (in Greek). Sport FM. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  16. ↑ Tsouvaras, Thomas (24 May 2023). "ΑΕΚ – ΠΑΟΚ 2–0: Ασύγκριτη! Η Ένωση κατέκτησε ένα ιστορικό νταμπλ, σάρωσε τους Θεσσαλονικείς με 10 παίκτες από το 6'" [AEK – PAOK 2–0: Unmatched! Union conquered historic double, Thessaloniki swept with 10 players at 6'] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  17. ↑ Soudoulidis, Stavros (25 November 2023). "ΠΑΟΚ – Πανσερραϊκός 5–0: Καταιγίδα!" [PAOK – Panserraikos 5–0: Storm!] (in Greek). Gazzetta. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "Grécia: Rafa Soares marca e PAOK engata a quinta" [Greece: Rafa Soares scores and PAOK go for fifth] (in Portuguese). CNN Portugal. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  19. 1 2 "Fernando Gomes felicita Vieirinha, André Ricardo e Rafa Soares" [Fernando Gomes congratulates Vieirinha, André Ricardo and Rafa Soares] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  20. ↑ "Famalicão: Rafa Soares assina por duas temporadas" [Famalicão: Rafa Soares signs for two seasons] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  21. ↑ Devesas, Lino (11 December 2025). "Pedro Bondo afirma-se na defesa do Famalicão e vai embora" [Pedro Bondo establishes himself in Famalicão's defence and leaves]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  22. ↑ Morais, Pedro (20 May 2026). "Rafa Soares tem futuro em aberto no Famalicão" [Rafa Soares with open future at Famalicão]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Fernandes, Bruno; Duarte, Mário (22 July 2026). "Rafa Soares assina livre pelo Estrela até 2028" [Rafa Soares signs for free for Estrela until 2028]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Gomes de Andrade, Maria (10 May 2018). "«Desde que nasci nunca esperei tanto tempo por um título do FC Porto»" ["I've never waited so long for a FC Porto title since I was born"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Percy, John (13 November 2014). "England Under-21 3 Portugal Under 21 1: Danny Ings seizes chance to impress Gareth Southgate ahead of Euro 2015". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  26. ↑ Rafa Soares at Soccerway
  27. ↑ Rafa Soares at WorldFootball.net
  28. ↑ Rafa Soares at Kicker (in German)
  29. ↑ Monteiro, André (12 May 2016). "Equipa B entrega troféu da 2.ª Liga a Pinto da Costa" [B team give 2nd League trophy to Pinto da Costa]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  30. ↑ Seretis, Yannis (19 May 2024). "ΠΑΟΚ 4Χ4 και... 1,2, 4 ως αουτσάιντερ: από 75–68 το έκανε 78–80!" [PAOK 4X4 and... 1,2, 4 as outsiders: they went from 75–68 to 78–80!] (in Greek). Gazzetta. Retrieved 19 May 2024.