Rafael Sóbis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rafael Sóbis

Sóbis playing for Tigres UANL in 2015.
Personal information
Full name	Rafael Augusto Sóbis
Date of birth	(1985-06-17) 17 June 1985 (age 40)
Place of birth	Erechim, Brazil
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Internacional	82	(28)
2006–2008	Betis	57	(8)
2008–2012	Al-Jazira	21	(7)
2010–2011	→ Internacional (loan)	16	(4)
2011–2012	→ Fluminense (loan)	26	(10)
2012–2014	Fluminense	88	(16)
2015–2016	Tigres UANL	52	(18)
2016–2018	Cruzeiro	64	(11)
2019	Internacional	20	(2)
2020	Ceará	16	(2)
2020–2021	Cruzeiro	30	(6)
International career
2005	Brazil U20	16	(4)
2008	Brazil U23	6	(2)
2006–2008	Brazil	8	(1)
Medal record Representing  Brazil Men's Football Bronze 2008 Beijing Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 July 2021

Rafael Augusto Sóbis (born on June 17, 1985) is a Brazilian former professional footballer. He played as a forward, which means he was usually one of the main players who tried to score goals.

Before joining Ceará, Sóbis played for several famous clubs. These included Internacional, Real Betis, Al-Jazira, Fluminense, and Tigres UANL. He achieved a big win by helping Internacional win the Copa Libertadores, which is a major South American club tournament. He was also a runner-up with Tigres in 2015.

Sóbis also played for the Brazil national team. He won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, which was a great achievement for his country.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Internacional

Rafael Sóbis was born in Erechim, a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He started playing football in the youth teams of Internacional. At first, he was known just as Rafael.

The club's president suggested he use his mother's last name, Sóbis, which has Ukrainian roots. This was thought to make him more appealing to European leagues, where he might even get dual citizenship.

Sóbis joined Internacional's main team in 2004. He quickly became an important player, known as Rafael Sóbis. In 2005, when he was just 19, he scored 19 goals in 35 matches.

In 2006, he was one of the best players for Internacional. The team finished second in the Brazilian League. Sóbis was even chosen for the all-star team at the end of the season. He helped Internacional win the Copa Libertadores title that year, scoring two goals in the first game of the final against São Paulo.

Moving to Real Betis

In August 2006, Sóbis moved to Real Betis, a club in Spain. He signed an 8-year contract. He made his debut for Real Betis and in La Liga (the top Spanish league) on September 10, 2006. His team won that game 3–0.

Sóbis scored his first goals against city rivals Sevilla on September 17. He also scored important goals against other teams. He got injured in a game against RCD Mallorca, which made him miss a month of playing. A big moment for Sóbis in the 2006–07 season was scoring a late goal against Barcelona at their home stadium, the Camp Nou.

He started his second season with Betis very well, scoring three goals in his first six games. In July 2008, Betis received an offer from the English club Newcastle United for Sóbis.

Time at Al-Jazira

On September 2, 2008, Sóbis joined Al-Jazira, a team in the UAE.

Second Time at Internacional

In July 2010, Sóbis returned to Internacional on a one-year loan. He came back to play in the Copa Libertadores. On August 18, Internacional won the 2010 Copa Libertadores final against Chivas Guadalajara. Sóbis scored the first goal in their 3–2 victory. He got hurt while scoring that goal and had to leave the game.

Playing for Fluminense

On July 21, 2011, Fluminense announced that Sóbis was joining their team. He reunited with his former coach, Abel Braga, who he had played for at Internacional and Al-Jazira.

Even though some fans and reporters were worried about his past injuries, Sóbis played a key role in Fluminense's successful season. He helped the team finish third in the 2011 Série A, scoring 10 goals in 26 games.

After playing on loan for a year, Fluminense bought Sóbis's rights in July 2012. He signed a three-year contract. That season, Fluminense won the national championship. He left Fluminense in December 2014.

Adventures with Tigres UANL

Just four days after leaving Fluminense, Sóbis joined Tigres UANL, a Mexican team, for the Clausura 2015 season. He became a champion of the Apertura 2015 season in Liga MX, which is Mexico's top league. He was also a runner-up in the 2015 Copa Libertadores with Tigres.

Joining Cruzeiro

On June 23, 2016, Sóbis signed with Cruzeiro until 2019. He quickly became an important player for the team, playing as a winger and a central striker. Cruzeiro's fans loved his determination, especially in big matches. His unique "samurai haircut" was even copied by supporters in 2017!

Back to Internacional (Third Time)

On January 5, 2019, Sóbis returned to Internacional for the third time. He signed a one-year contract with his old club.

Time at Ceará

In January 2020, Sóbis joined Ceará on a one-year contract. He played well in the State League and Copa do Nordeste that year.

Return to Cruzeiro and Retirement

In November 2020, Sóbis rejoined Cruzeiro. He reportedly came back to help the team, which was facing financial problems and had been relegated to Série B.

Sóbis retired at the end of his contract in 2021. He was a fan favorite during both of his times playing for Cruzeiro.

International Career

Sóbis playing for Brazil in 2006, holding off a challenge from Switzerland's Tranquillo Barnetta

Sóbis played for the Brazil team for the first time on September 3, 2006. This was in a match against Argentina in London, which Brazil won 3–0. Sóbis came on as a substitute at the very end of the game. He scored his first goal for Brazil in an unofficial friendly match in October 2006.

He also won a bronze medal with the Brazil U-23 team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in China. In a group stage game against New Zealand, he scored a goal that helped Brazil win 5–0.

How Sóbis Played

Sóbis was a very active forward on the field. He was known for being smart in his play, moving well, and having good vision. He was also good at passing the ball, which helped him create chances for his teammates to score.

Even though he preferred to play as a supporting striker, he could also play as a winger (on the sides of the field) or as a single striker. His coaches often used him in different roles because he was so versatile. He was right-footed and good at taking set-pieces, but he could also pass, cross, and shoot with his left foot.

Career Statistics

Honours and Awards

Internacional

• Campeonato Gaúcho: 2011
• Copa Libertadores: 2006, 2010

Fluminense

• Campeonato Carioca: 2012
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2012

Cruzeiro

• Campeonato Mineiro: 2018
• Copa do Brasil: 2017, 2018

UANL

• Liga MX: Apertura 2015
• Copa Libertadores runner-up: 2015
• Concacaf Champions League runner-up: 2015–16

Brazil

• Olympic Games Bronze medal: 2008

Individual Awards

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2005
• Copa do Brasil top scorer: 2017

See also

In Spanish: Rafael Sóbis para niños