Brazilian Defender Rafinha Retires After 20-Year Career

Former Brazil international Rafinha has officially retired from professional football, bringing an end to a career that lasted over 20 years.

The 39-year-old right-back confirmed his decision in an interview with Sportv. He had been uncertain about his future since leaving Brazilian club Coritiba in March.

“Today, I officially announce the end of my career as a professional football player,” Rafinha said. “It’s been an amazing journey. I never imagined I would go this far. It’s hard to walk away from something I’ve done my whole life, but everything has a beginning and an end. I have no regrets—I achieved everything I wanted.”

Rafinha began his career with Coritiba in 2002 before moving to Germany to play for Schalke from 2005 to 2010. He later joined Italian club Genoa, then played his most successful years with Bayern Munich, where he won many titles. He also had spells at Flamengo and Sao Paulo before returning briefly to Coritiba in 2023.

During his time at Bayern Munich, Rafinha played 266 matches and won seven Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, and was a key part of the 2013 treble-winning team that claimed the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, and Champions League.

Rafinha was capped four times by the Brazil national team.

His last club, Sao Paulo, honored him with a heartfelt message, calling him their captain in recent victories.

“Our captain in the 2023 Copa do Brasil and the 2024 Supercopa Rei, Marcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza, has announced his retirement on July 21, 2025. A lifelong Sao Paulo fan, Rafinha lived his dream of wearing our shirt from 2022 to 2024, playing in 117 matches,” the club said in a statement. “Congratulations on a beautiful career, and best of luck in your next chapter!”

Rafinha leaves behind a legacy of passion, leadership, and top-level success.