Rafael Pontelo

Rafael Pontelo
Personal information
Full name Rafael da Silva Pontelo
Date of birth (2003-01-22) 22 January 2003
Place of birth Sete Lagoas, Brazil
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Farense
(on loan from Sporting CP B)
Number 45
Youth career
América Mineiro
Bela Vista
2019–2023 Ponte Preta
2022 → Real Valladolid (loan)
2022–2023 → Cruzeiro (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Leixões 12 (0)
2024– Sporting CP 1 (0)
2024– Sporting CP B 4 (0)
2024–2025 → Pafos (loan) 4 (0)
2025 → Auda (loan) 15 (0)
2026– → Farense (loan) 7 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 May 2026

Rafael da Silva Pontelo (born 22 January 2003) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga Portugal 2 club Farense, on loan from Sporting CP B.

Club career

Pontelo was born in Matozinhos and raised in Sete Lagoas. He is a youth product of América Mineiro, Bela Vista, and Ponte Preta.[1] From Ponte Preta he moved on loan to the Spanish club Real Valladolid in 2022, and then Cruzeiro until 2023.[2] On 11 July 2023, he transferred to Leixões in the Liga Portugal 2 on a three-year contract where he began his senior career.[3]

On 2 January 2024, he transferred to Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga on a contract until 2028.[4] He made his debut with Sporting CP as a starter in a 4–0 Taça de Portugal win over Tondela on 9 January 2024.[5]

Personal life

Born in Brazil, Pontelo is of Italian descent and holds dual citizenship.[6] Turned down at Atlético Mineiro because of his slight build, as a child and teenager he escaped street life, crime and violence with the help of Ponte Preta.[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 December 2024
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leixões 2023–24 Liga Portugal 2 1201010——140
Sporting CP 2023–24 Primeira Liga 10100000—20
Pafos (loan) 2024–25 Cypriot First Division 4000—301080
Career total 17020103010240

Honours

Sporting CP

References

  1. ↑ Mídia, Tecle (5 January 2024). "Rafael Pontelo, morador de Sete Lagoas, é anunciando pelo Sporting Clube de Portugal".
  2. ↑ Salazar, Dyhego (4 July 2023). "Zagueiro Rafael Silva, que veio do Real Valladolid para o Cruzeiro está deixando o clube".
  3. ↑ Oliveira, Mário Cagica (14 July 2023). "Rafael Silva confirmado como reforço do Leixões". Bola na Rede.
  4. ↑ "Oficial: Rafael Pontelo é reforço do Sporting. Confira o contrato". O Jogo.
  5. ↑ "Pontelo titular frente ao Tondela". Jornal de Notícias.
  6. ↑ "Com história em Sete Lagoas, Rafael Pontelo é apresentado no Sporting de Portugal". Pensou em Sete Lagoas ? SeteLagoas.com.br. 5 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Pontelo ganhou à favela: conheça a história do reforço do Sporting - Sporting - Jornal Record". Record. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  8. ↑ Kundert, Tom (6 May 2024). "Seven reasons Sporting are champions of Portugal". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
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