en Rafael Gladiador

Rafael Gladiador
Personal information
Full name	Rafael Teixeira de Souza
Date of birth	13 July 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Água Boa, Brazil
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
0000–2011	Bahia
Senior career*
Years	Team
2011–2014	Bahia
2013	→ D.C. United (loan)
2013	→ Atlético Goianiense (loan)
2014–2015	Atlético Zacatepec
2015	Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard
2017	Tupi
2019	Cabofriense
2019	Paços de Ferreira
2020	Patrocinense
2020	Juventude
2021	Palmas
International career‡
2011	Brazil U20
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2021; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 September 2019

Rafael Teixeira de Souza (born 13 July 1992) in Água Boa, commonly known as Rafael Gladiador, is a former Brazilian footballer who played as a striker.

Club career

In 2011, Rafael Gladiador signed for Bahia's first team from its reserve squad. In 36 appearances for Bahia he scored 10 goals.

On 9 January 2013, it was announced that he would join D.C. United as a young designated player on a one-year loan^[1] with a pre-negotiated option to make the move permanent.^[2] He scored his first goal for the team in his debut game on 23 March, a 2–1 home defeat to the Columbus Crew.^[3] After making four more appearances with United, Rafael suffered a concussion during training.

Rafael Gladiador and DC agreed to part ways in June 2013.^[4]

In July 2015, Rafael Gladiador transferred to China League One side Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard.^[5]

On 5 July 2019, Rafael Gladiador signed with Paços de Ferreira after a stint in Brazil with Cabofriense.^[6] However, he didn't play any games for the club, before he returned to Brazil, signing with Patrocinense in December 2019. In August 2020, he moved to Sociedade Esportiva Juventude.^[7]

Rafael joined Palmas ahead of the 2021 Campeonato Tocantinense.^[8]