Zé Rafael
Full nameJosé Rafael Vivian
Birth date16 June 1993 (age 33)
Birth placePonta Grossa, Brazil
Height1.75 m
PositionDefensive midfielder
CurrentclubSantos
Clubnumber6
Youthyears 12009–2012
Youthclubs 1Coritiba
Years 12012–2016
Clubs 1Coritiba
Caps 122
Goals 10
Years 22014
Clubs 2→ Novo Hamburgo (loan)
Caps 26
Goals 23
Years 32015
Clubs 3→ Londrina (loan)
Caps 316
Goals 32
Years 42016
Clubs 4→ Londrina (loan)
Caps 442
Goals 48
Years 52017–2018
Clubs 5Bahia
Caps 591
Goals 511
Years 62019–2025
Clubs 6Palmeiras
Caps 6227
Goals 617
Years 72025–
Clubs 7Santos
Caps 737
Goals 72
Club-update12:20, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

José Rafael Vivian (born 16 June 1993), known as Zé Rafael, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Série A club Santos.

Club career

Coritiba

Born in Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Zé Rafael joined Coritiba's youth setup in 2009, aged 16,[1] as an attacking midfielder. He made his first team debut on 29 April 2012, coming on as a half-time substitute for Rafael Silva in a 3–1 Campeonato Paranaense away win against Roma.

Zé Rafael was definitely promoted to the first team ahead of the 2013 season,[1] and made his Série A debut on 11 August of that year by replacing Lincoln in a 1–0 loss at Vasco da Gama. On 12 February 2014, after appearing sparingly, he was loaned to Novo Hamburgo until the end of the 2014 Campeonato Gaúcho.[2]

Zé Rafael scored his first senior goal on 27 February 2014, netting the first in a 2–1 home win against Passo Fundo. Upon returning, he only featured rarely before joining Londrina on loan on 5 May 2015, with Paulinho moving in the opposite direction.[3]

Zé Rafael became a regular starter at the Tubarão, helping in their promotion to Série B with two goals. He subsequently returned to Coxa, but after failing to make an appearance, he requested to leave and returned to Londrina on 11 February 2016, on loan until December.[4]

Zé Rafael was an undisputed starter during the second division, scoring four goals in 32 appearances as his side finished sixth, three points away from another promotion; highlights included a brace in a 2–1 away win against Vila Nova.

Bahia

On 6 January 2017, Zé Rafael signed a three-year deal with Bahia, in the first division.[5] He immediately became a starter for the new side, winning the 2017 Copa do Nordeste.

Zé Rafael scored his first top tier goal on 14 May 2017, netting the equalizer in a 6–2 home routing of Atlético Paranaense. He only missed two league matches in his first season, both due to suspension, and also won the 2018 Campeonato Baiano.[6]

Palmeiras

Zé Rafael signed a five-year deal with Palmeiras on 29 November 2018;[7] the signing cost R$ 14.5 million for Palmeiras and became the biggest sale in Bahia's history.[8] After the arrival of Vanderlei Luxemburgo as coach, he was moved back to a defensive midfielder position.[9]

Established as a regular starter, Zé Rafael won two Copa Libertadores titles with Verdão, being a first-choice in both campaigns. He renewed his contract until 2025 on 6 January 2023,[10] and further extended his link for another year exactly one year later.[11]

After the arrival of new signing Aníbal Moreno and the proeminence of Richard Ríos, Zé Rafael played most of the 2024 Campeonato Paulista as a left midfielder.[12] He reached 300 matches for the club in July of that year,[13] but struggled with injuries throughout the season, subsequently losing his starting spot.[14]

Santos

On 26 February 2025, Santos announced the signing of Zé Rafael on a three-year contract.[15] After nursing a back injury, he made his debut for the club on 12 May, replacing Tomás Rincón late into a 0–0 draw against Ceará at the Allianz Parque, stadium of his former side Palmeiras.[16]

Zé Rafael scored his first goal for Peixe on 16 October 2025, netting the opener in a 3–1 home win over rivals Corinthians.

Career statistics

[17]

ClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Coritiba2012Série A001000——10
20137050202[a]0—160
20143050———80
2015001000——10
2016000000—0000
Subtotal100120202000260
Novo Hamburgo (loan)2014Gaúcho—6340——103
Londrina (loan)2015Série C162————162
2016Série B32410410——438
Subtotal48610420——5910
Bahia2017Série A36310120—12[b]1605
2018334123418[a]311[b]26813
Subtotal697224618323312818
Palmeiras2019Série A27540324[c]0—387
20202621617012[c]21[d]0625
2021261802010[c]24[e]0503
20223331124011[c]12[f]1617
20233131404010[c]01[g]0603
2024180130203[c]01[g]0370
Subtotal161146632225059130825
Santos2025Série A271—10——281
20265150101[a]0—121
Subtotal322502010—402
Career total320291211438361830457058

Honours

Club

Coritiba
Bahia
Palmeiras

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Zé Rafael representa Ponta Grossa no Brasileirão" [Zé Rafael represents Ponta Grossa at the Brasileirão] (in Portuguese). Diário dos Campos. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Coritiba empresta goleiro Victor Brasil e meia Zé Rafael ao Novo Hamburgo" [Coritiba loan goalkeeper Victor Brasil and midfielder Zé Rafael to Novo Hamburgo] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Londrina confirma "troca" com o Coritiba: Paulinho por Zé Rafael" [Londrina confirm "exchange" with Coritiba: Paulinho for Zé Rafael] (in Portuguese). Bem Paraná. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Insatisfeito no Coritiba, Zé Rafael é liberado e emprestado ao Londrina" [Unhappy at Coritiba, Zé Rafael is released and loaned to Londrina] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Zé Rafael" (in Portuguese). Esporte Clube Bahia. EC Bahia. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  6. ^ "127 jogos em 10 atos inesquecíveis: relembre os dois anos de Zé Rafael pelo Bahia" [127 matches in 10 unforgettable acts: remember the two years of Zé Rafael for Bahia] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Palmeiras acerta contratação do meia Zé Rafael por 5 anos" [Palmeiras signs Zé Rafael on a five-year deal] (in Portuguese). Palmeiras. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Informe sobre Zé Rafael" [Report about Zé Rafael] (in Portuguese). EC Bahia. 29 November 2018. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  9. ^ "O ponta que virou primeiro volante: Zé Rafael abre as portas de casa e o coração sobre o Palmeiras" [The winger who became a defensive midfielder: Zé Rafael opens his house and his heart about Palmeiras] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Zé Rafael renova até fim de 2025, comemora 'volta por cima' e quer seguir nos trilhos das conquistas" [Zé Rafael renews until the end of 2025, celebrates 'comeback' and wants to remain on track of accolades] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SE Palmeiras. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Multicampeão pelo Palmeiras, Zé Rafael renova até 2026: 'Muito feliz e motivado'" [Multichampion for Palmeiras, Zé Rafael renews until 2026: 'Very happy and motivated'] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SE Palmeiras. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  12. ^ "O trem faz tudo! Zé Rafael muda de posição mais uma vez com Abel e se reinventa no Palmeiras" [The man does it all! Zé Rafael changes position again with Abel and reinvents himself at Palmeiras] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Zé Rafael celebra 300 jogos pelo Palmeiras, fala em "ano difícil" e agradece apoio da torcida" [Zé Rafael reaches 300 matches for Palmeiras, talks about "rough year" and thanks the support of the crowd] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Alvo do Santos, Zé Rafael tem futuro incerto no Palmeiras" [Santos' target, Zé Rafael has an uncertain future at Palmeiras] (in Brazilian Portuguese). CNN Brazil. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Santos FC contrata volante Zé Rafael até dezembro de 2027" [Santos FC sign defensive midfielder Zé Rafael until December 2027] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  16. ^ "Zé Rafael faz estreia pelo Santos em empate contra o Ceará no Allianz" [Zé Rafael makes Santos debut in a draw against Ceará at the Allianz] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  17. ^
  18. ^ Letizio, Mariana; Campos, Sarah; Hernandes, Pedro (2022-11-21). "'Agora é olho no olho': cerimônia do Troféu Mesa Redonda está de volta ao presencial; confira os premiados" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived 2022-11-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  19. ^ "Sem Abel, Palmeiras domina seleção do Paulistão; veja time ideal e outros prêmios" [Without Abel, Palmeiras dominate the Paulistão best XI; see the team and other awards] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa do Nordeste
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in FIFA Club World Cup
  5. ^ One appearance in Supercopa do Brasil, one appearance in Recopa Sudamericana, two appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  6. ^ Appearance(s) in Recopa Sudamericana
  7. ^ Appearance(s) in Supercopa do Brasil