For other uses, see Rai (disambiguation).
Raí
FullnameRaimundo Souza Vieira de Oliveira
Birth date15 May 1965 (age 61)
Birth placeRibeirão Preto, Brazil
Height1.89 m
PositionAttacking midfielder
Youthyears 11980–1985
Youthclubs 1Botafogo-SP
Years 11984–1987
Clubs 1Botafogo-SP
Years 21986
Clubs 2→ Ponte Preta (loan)
Caps 210
Goals 21
Years 31987–1993
Clubs 3São Paulo
Caps 3110
Goals 325
Years 41993–1998
Clubs 4Paris Saint-Germain
Caps 4147
Goals 451
Years 51998–2000
Clubs 5São Paulo
Caps 519
Goals 51
Totalcaps284
Totalgoals77
Nationalyears 11987–1998
Nationalteam 1Brazil
Nationalcaps 149
Nationalgoals 117
Manageryears 12018–2020
Managerclubs 1São Paulo (director of football)
Medaltemplates-expandyes

Raimundo Souza Vieira de Oliveira (born 15 May 1965), popularly known as Raí (ʁaˈi), is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. The younger brother of Brazil captain Sócrates,[1][2] Raí also captained Brazil, and was part of the country's victorious 1994 World Cup squad.

He spent most of his 15-year career with São Paulo[3] and Paris Saint-Germain, winning 10 major titles with the two teams combined and nearing the 100-goal mark. Raí is considered by fans, journalists and players as one of the greatest players in the history of PSG.[4][5]

Club career

Early years

Born in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Raí started his career with local side Botafogo and in 1986 came to Ponte Preta, where he debuted in the Série A.[citation needed]

São Paulo

Raí joined São Paulo FC for the 1987 season, only making his league debut on 18 October due to injury. After scoring only once in his first year, Raí developed into a prolific goalscorer under coach Telê Santana, scoring 29 goals in the 1991 campaign as the team won both the regional Campeonato Paulista and the National Championship.[citation needed]

In 1992, Raí was part of the São Paulo team that won the club's first ever Copa Libertadores, scoring the only goal of the final second-leg against Newell's Old Boys that took the match to a penalty shootout.[citation needed] Later that year, he was instrumental in the defeat of FC Barcelona in the 1992 Intercontinental Cup, netting both goals in a 2–1 win in Tokyo. This form saw Raí named South American Footballer of the Year for 1992.[6]

In the 1993 season, São Paulo defended their Copa Libertadores title, with Raí again scoring in the final as CD Universidad Católica were beaten 5–1 at the Estádio do Morumbi.[7]

Paris Saint-Germain

In June 1993, Raí was acquired by Paris Saint-Germain F.C. of France for US$4.6 million,[8] remaining with São Paulo until the end of the year. He still managed to contribute with six goals in 28 Ligue 1 games as his new club won the national championship for the second time in its history; he helped PSG to the following season's French Cup, and was on target in the League Cup final against SC Bastia (2–0).[9][10] He also reached the semi-finals of the 1994–95 UEFA Champions League with PSG.

Raí once again proved essential as PSG won the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, scoring twice in a 3–1 home win against Parma, after a 1–0 away loss. He also appeared in the final against SK Rapid Wien, and went on to score three seasons in double digits during his five-season spell. In 1997–98 he scored in both the Coupe de la Ligue final and the Coupe de France final against Bordeaux and Lens respectively as PSG won both games.[11][12]

Return to São Paulo

At the age of 33, Raí returned to São Paulo.[citation needed] He retired in 2000.

International career

Raí gained the first of his 49 caps for Brazil in 1987, whilst at São Paulo, being selected to that year's Copa América in Argentina, playing twice – including in the 0–4 group stage loss against Chile – in an eventual group stage exit.[13] His debut occurred on 19 May at the Rous Cup, playing 15 minutes in a 1–1 draw against England.[citation needed]

Raí was picked by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira for his 1994 FIFA World Cup squad. He captained the Seleção in the group stage and scored a penalty in the first match, a 2–0 win against Russia, after Romário was brought down in the box. Raí was subsequently dropped from the first team in the knockout stages, with Dunga taking over the captaincy. He was used as a substitute against the Netherlands (quarter-finals, ten minutes) and Sweden (semi-final, 45 minutes)[14] as Brazil went on to win the tournament.

Personal life

After retiring, Raí became a social activist, being involved in two separate philanthropic organisations.[2]

In the early 2000s, Raí made a cameo appearance in the TV Globo telenovela Laços de Família. He played his own role as an ex-footballer who meets one of the programme's characters (Ciça Soriano, played by actress Júlia Feldens) as she is flying to New York.[15]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCoupe de FranceCoupe de la LigueEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Paris Saint-Germain1993–94Division 128642—4[a]0—368
1994–95Division 1281250427[b]2—4416
1995–96Division 1271431106[a]21[c]03817
1996–97Division 1359311010[a]32[d]25115
1997–98Division 1291063518[b]4—4818
Total1475121711335113221774
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Appearance in Trophée des Champions
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Super Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Brazil1987113
198800
198900
199000
199153
199276
1993162
199493
199500
199600
199700
199810
Total4917

Honours

São Paulo

Paris Saint-Germain

Brazil

Individual

See also

References

  1. ^ Europe's surprising challenge to the latin game; The New York Times, 9 July 1994
  2. ^ Where are they now? Rai; The Guardian, 22 June 2008
  3. ^ Após 100º de Ceni, Raí eleva goleiro ao posto de ídolo máximo do Tricolor (After Ceni's 100th goal, Raí raises goalkeeper to biggest idol position at the Tricolor); Globo Esporte, 28 March 2011 (in Portuguese)
  4. ^ "50 ans du PSG : Raí élu meilleur joueur de l'histoire du club". 29 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Raï meilleur joueur du PSG, devant Susic et Ronaldinho : De la difficulté de classer les légendes". 29 September 2020.
  6. ^ "South American Footballer of the Year Winners". FBref.com. Retrieved 2026-05-15.
  7. ^ "Where are they now? Rai". The Guardian. 22 June 2008.
  8. ^ A match made in heaven; FIFA.com, 19 May 2010
  9. ^ "PSG – Bastia 2–0, 03/05/95, Coupe de la Ligue 94–95". archivesparisfootball.wordpress.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  10. ^ "PSG – Strasbourg 1–0, 13/05/95, Coupe de France 94–95". archivesparisfootball.wordpress.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  11. ^ "PSG – Bordeaux 2–2 (4–2 tab), 04/04/98, Coupe de la Ligue 97–98". archivesparisfootball.wordpress.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  12. ^ "PSG – Lens 2–1, 02/05/98, Coupe de France 97–98". archivesparisfootball.wordpress.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  13. ^ Copa América 1987; at RSSSF
  14. ^
  15. ^ "Participação de Raí em Laços de Família choca usuários: 'Rolê aleatório'"
  16. ^ "South American Team of the Year". 16 January 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  17. ^ "IFFHS Awards 1992". 10 April 2020. Archived 14 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  18. ^ Garin, Erik & Pierrend, José Luis (18 January 2018). "France – Footballer of the Year". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Archived 5 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Raï, le chevalier brésilien du PSG". 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2020. (in French)
  20. ^ "Doctorats Honoris Causa". 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020. (in French)