One of the most experienced players available to coach Arthur Elias in France, defender Rafaelle, 33, could complete her 100th game for the Brazilian National Team on Saturday (3rd). She is participating in her third Olympics and will achieve this historic milestone if she is selected for the match against France at 9 PM (4 PM in Brasília) at La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes.
Rafaelle first joined the senior national team in 2011. With the team, she has won significant titles, including the Pan American Games in 2015 in Canada and the Copa América in 2018 and 2022. With great technique and excellent game vision, Rafaelle is already considered one of the best defenders in Brazilian football.
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Her experience with the national team also includes two World Cups (2015 and 2023) and the Olympics in 2016 and 2020. For her, the dream of returning from France with a medal is something that drives her daily for quite some time. Recently, she had another great moment with the national team when Brazil defeated Panama 4-0 in June in Salvador.
The defender was born and raised in Cipó, a town in the interior of Bahia. Since she was young, she has always loved football and used to play with neighbors and friends in the streets, in the square near her home, or at school. Over time, she improved her skills and, at 15, made her debut on the adult team of São Francisco do Conde, which led to her being called up for the U-17 National Team.
She also played for the U-20 National Team. During her career, she enrolled in a civil engineering course at the State University of Bahia. She completed her higher education at the University of Mississippi in the United States, where she transferred to the Ole Miss Rebels, the university’s team. Currently, Rafaelle plays for Orlando Pride.
Rafaelle experienced muscle discomfort after the match against Japan in the second round of the group stage and was not included in the squad for the match against Spain. Now, fully recovered, she is ready to help the national team again.
