Rafinha: player profile - FC Bayern Legends
Legend
Legend
Personal
- Date of birth
- 07/09/1985
- Place of birth
- Londrina, Brazil
- Nationality
- Brazilian
- Nickname
- Rafinha
- My neighbour in the Bayern changing room
- Jérôme Boateng
- My pre-match ritual
- Listen to music and call my mum
- Greatest sporting moment
- Winning the treble in 2013
- Toughest opponent
- Ronaldinho
- Funniest moment
- The 2013 treble win celebrations
- If I hadn't turned pro, I would now be
- Musician
The Rascal from Londrina
Márcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza, better known as Rafinha, was born on 7 September 1985 in Londrina, Brazil – the same city as Giovane Elber. His football journey began at the age of seven in futsal, and at twelve he joined the Paraná Soccer Technical Center before stepping up to the professional ranks with Coritiba FC in 2002. In 2005, he took the leap to Germany with Schalke 04, where over five years he established himself as a regular and twice finished Bundesliga runner-up. After a brief spell with Genoa CFC in Serie A, Rafinha returned to the Bundesliga for the 2011/12 season – when FC Bayern brought the attack-minded right-back to Säbener Straße.
Treble, Titles and 18 Trophies
Rafinha wore the FC Bayern shirt for eight years – longer than any other Brazilian in the club’s history. In 266 competitive matches he showed what defined him: tireless work rate and an unrelenting will to win. “I am a winner, I win everything,” he once said – and he kept his word. Seven German championships, four DFB Cups, four Supercups and the ultimate highlight in 2013: the historic treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB Cup. In total, Rafinha won 18 trophies with Bayern – level with Elber for the most appearances by a Brazilian in an FCB shirt. His farewell in 2019, together with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry, was one of the most emotional moments in Bayern’s recent history.
Munich remains a second Home
In 2019, Rafinha returned to Brazil and won the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo Rio de Janeiro in the same year – an achievement managed by only a small handful of players worldwide. After further spells with Olympiakos Piraeus, Grêmio Porto Alegre, São Paulo FC and a return to Coritiba, Rafinha ended his playing career in July 2025. Since 2015 he has also held German citizenship – Germany has become a second home for him. At the Beckenbauer Cup 2025 in Munich, he once again wore the red-and-white shirt. On 27 January 2026, Rafinha was appointed sporting director at São Paulo FC. For Bayern fans, he remains the ever-smiling amigo who embodied the meaning of “Mia san mia” like few others.
Champions League winner: 2013
FIFA Club World Cup winner: 2014
German champion: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
DFB Cup winner: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019
DFL Supercup winner: 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019
UEFA Super Cup winner: 2014
- Date of birth
- 07/09/1985
- Place of birth
- Londrina, Brazil
- Nationality
- Brazilian
- Nickname
- Rafinha
- My neighbour in the Bayern changing room
- Jérôme Boateng
- My pre-match ritual
- Listen to music and call my mum
- Greatest sporting moment
- Winning the treble in 2013
- Toughest opponent
- Ronaldinho
- Funniest moment
- The 2013 treble win celebrations
- If I hadn't turned pro, I would now be
- Musician
The Rascal from Londrina
Márcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza, better known as Rafinha, was born on 7 September 1985 in Londrina, Brazil – the same city as Giovane Elber. His football journey began at the age of seven in futsal, and at twelve he joined the Paraná Soccer Technical Center before stepping up to the professional ranks with Coritiba FC in 2002. In 2005, he took the leap to Germany with Schalke 04, where over five years he established himself as a regular and twice finished Bundesliga runner-up. After a brief spell with Genoa CFC in Serie A, Rafinha returned to the Bundesliga for the 2011/12 season – when FC Bayern brought the attack-minded right-back to Säbener Straße.
Treble, Titles and 18 Trophies
Rafinha wore the FC Bayern shirt for eight years – longer than any other Brazilian in the club’s history. In 266 competitive matches he showed what defined him: tireless work rate and an unrelenting will to win. “I am a winner, I win everything,” he once said – and he kept his word. Seven German championships, four DFB Cups, four Supercups and the ultimate highlight in 2013: the historic treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB Cup. In total, Rafinha won 18 trophies with Bayern – level with Elber for the most appearances by a Brazilian in an FCB shirt. His farewell in 2019, together with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry, was one of the most emotional moments in Bayern’s recent history.
Munich remains a second Home
In 2019, Rafinha returned to Brazil and won the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo Rio de Janeiro in the same year – an achievement managed by only a small handful of players worldwide. After further spells with Olympiakos Piraeus, Grêmio Porto Alegre, São Paulo FC and a return to Coritiba, Rafinha ended his playing career in July 2025. Since 2015 he has also held German citizenship – Germany has become a second home for him. At the Beckenbauer Cup 2025 in Munich, he once again wore the red-and-white shirt. On 27 January 2026, Rafinha was appointed sporting director at São Paulo FC. For Bayern fans, he remains the ever-smiling amigo who embodied the meaning of “Mia san mia” like few others.
Champions League winner: 2013
FIFA Club World Cup winner: 2014
German champion: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
DFB Cup winner: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019
DFL Supercup winner: 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019
UEFA Super Cup winner: 2014