Rafael Pontelo
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael da Silva Pontelo | ||
| Date of birth | 22 January 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Sete Lagoas, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sporting CP | ||
| 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) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:50, 18 January 2024 (UTC) | |||
Rafael da Silva Pontelo (born 22 January 2003) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP.
Club career[edit]
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 3-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[edit]
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]
References[edit]
- ^ Mídia, Tecle (January 5, 2024). "Rafael Pontelo, morador de Sete Lagoas, é anunciando pelo Sporting Clube de Portugal".
- ^ Salazar, Dyhego (July 4, 2023). "Zagueiro Rafael Silva, que veio do Real Valladolid para o Cruzeiro está deixando o clube".
- ^ Oliveira, Mário Cagica (July 14, 2023). "Rafael Silva confirmado como reforço do Leixões". Bola na Rede.
- ^ "Oficial: Rafael Pontelo é reforço do Sporting. Confira o contrato". O Jogo.
- ^ "Pontelo titular frente ao Tondela". Jornal de Notícias.
- ^ "Com história em Sete Lagoas, Rafael Pontelo é apresentado no Sporting de Portugal". Pensou em Sete Lagoas ? SeteLagoas.com.br. January 5, 2024.
- ^ "Pontelo ganhou à favela: conheça a história do reforço do Sporting - Sporting - Jornal Record". Record. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
External links[edit]
- Rafael Pontelo at Soccerway
- 2003 births
- Living people
- People from Sete Lagoas
- Footballers from Minas Gerais
- Brazilian men's footballers
- Brazilian people of Italian descent
- Men's association football central defenders
- Leixões S.C. players
- Sporting CP footballers
- Primeira Liga players
- Liga Portugal 2 players
- Brazilian expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
- Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal