Rafael Rodrigues

Rafael Vela Rodrigues (born 27 January 2002) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Al Ain on loan from Benfica B.

Rafael Rodrigues

Personal information
Full name	Rafael Vela Rodrigues
Date of birth	(2002-01-27) 27 January 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Oliveira do Bairro, Portugal
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Team information
Current team	Al Ain (on loan from Benfica B)
Number	2
Youth career
2010–2014	CB Estarreja
2014–2022	Benfica
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Benfica B	76	(1)
2024–2025	→ AVS (loan)	21	(1)
2025–	→ Al Ain (loan)	0	(0)
International career‡
2017–2018	Portugal U16	6	(0)
2018–2019	Portugal U17	6	(0)
2020	Portugal U18	3	(0)
2020	Portugal U19	1	(0)
2021–2022	Portugal U20	9	(0)
2022–	Portugal U21	6	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:34, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

International career

Rodrigues has represented Portugal at youth international level.^[1]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 October 2023^[2][3]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Benfica B	2020–21	Liga Portugal 2	1	0	—		—		1	0
	2021–22	Liga Portugal 2	16	0	—		—		16	0
	2022–23	Liga Portugal 2	31	0	—		—		31	0
	2023–24	Liga Portugal 2	6	0	—		—		6	0
	Total		54	0	—		—		54	0
Career total			54	0	0	0	0	0	54	0

Honours

Benfica

• UEFA Youth League: 2021–22^[4]
• Under-20 Intercontinental Cup: 2022^[5]