Rafael Sóbis

Rafael Augusto Sóbis do Nascimento (born 17 June 1985) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Cruzeiro.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Sóbis and the second or paternal family name is Nascimento.
Rafael Sóbis
Sóbis playing for Tigres UANL in 2015.
Personal information
Full name Rafael Augusto Sóbis do Nascimento
Date of birth (1985-06-17) 17 June 1985
Place of birth Erechim, Brazil
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Cruzeiro
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)
2014–2016 Tigres UANL 52 (18)
2016–2018 Cruzeiro 64 (11)
2019 Internacional 20 (2)
2020 Ceará 16 (2)
2020– Cruzeiro 0 (0)
National team
2005 Brazil U20 16 (4)
2008 Brazil U23 6 (2)
2006–2008 Brazil 8 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 March 2019

Before joining Ceará, Sóbis played for Internacional, Real Betis, Al-Jazira, Fluminense and Tigres UANL. He won the Copa Libertadores with Internacional, and was a runner-up with Tigres in 2015.

Sóbis also represented the Brazil national team, winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics.

Club career

Internacional

Born in Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, he started in the youth categories of Internacional, known only as Rafael. Inter's president at the time, Fernando Carvalho, suggested the change to only Sobis, his maternal surname of Ukrainian origins, because it could be more attractive for the European leagues, where the boy could get dual citizenship.[1]

He went to the main team in 2004 and quickly won a place in it, being known by his name along the surname (with acute accent), Rafael Sóbis. Sóbis scored 19 goals in 35 matches in the 2005 season at the age of 19. In the following year, he was one of the main players in the Internacional squad that finished the Brazilian League in second place, and was selected by the CBF to play in the all star team at the end of the season. The 2006 season started slowly for him, as he fought against a series of injuries. He eventually recovered his place in the first team and helped Internacional secure the Copa Libertadores title; scoring twice in the first-leg of the final match against São Paulo.

Real Betis

Sóbis signed for Real Betis in August 2006 for €9 million, (R$21.8 million[2]) putting pen to paper on an 8-year contract, a length reminiscent to that of fellow Brazilian international Denílson. Internacional only received 25% of the fee and the rest belong to other parties. Among 25% of Inter, R$272,500 was further deducted as agent fee.[2] He was officially unveiled to the press on 8 September and made his Real Betis and La Liga debut against Athletic Bilbao two days later at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium, a game his team won 3–0.

Sóbis scored his first goals against city rivals Sevilla on 17 September, a match that Betis eventually lost 3–2. He also managed to score important goals against Celta de Vigo, a debut game for then newly appointed coach Luis Fernández. Ligament damage sustained in a game against RCD Mallorca meant that he missed a month of action. Sóbis' major contribution to the 2006–07 season was his late equaliser against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, assisted by fellow Brazilian Marcos Assunção.

He began his second season with Betis strongly, scoring three goals in his first six games, against Valencia CF, RCD Mallorca and 2007 UEFA Cup finalists RCD Espanyol but once again the Brazilian's form dipped. Betis received an offer of €10 million from English Premier League club Newcastle United for Sóbis in July 2008.[3]

Al-Jazira

On 2 September 2008, Sóbis joined UAE side Al-Jazira for €10 million.[4]

In July 2010, Sóbis returned to Internacional on loan for one year to play the Copa Libertadores. On 18 August, they defeated Chivas Guadalajara in the 2010 Copa Libertadores final with Sóbis scoring their first goal in their 3–2 win. He hurt his arm while scoring the goal by falling over it, and had to be replaced later on by Leandro Damião, who also ended up scoring a goal during the match.[5] After the loan ended, Internacional did not use the buy option, due to his injuries and high price, and he returned to the Middle East.

Fluminense

After one year playing on loan from Al-Jazira, on 19 July 2012 Fluminense bought Sóbis' economic rights for R$8.75 million, on a three-year contract.[6]

On 24 December 2014, he left Fluminense by mutual consent.[7]

Tigres UANL

Four days after leaving Fluminense, Sóbis joined Mexican side Tigres UANL for the Clausura 2015 season.[8] He became champion of the Apertura 2015 season of Liga MX and runner-up of the 2015 Copa Libertadores.

Cruzeiro

On 23 June 2016, Sóbis signed for Cruzeiro until 2019, joining a day after Argentine striker Ramón Ábila. Sóbis went on to become an important part of the team's 11, playing as a winger and as a central striker. Cruzeiro's supporters embraced the player's grit and determination, specially during important matches and derbies, during which Rafael Sóbis shown to rise to the occasion. The player's samurai haircut or Viking style was also referenced and copied by supporters during the first half of 2017.[9]

Back to Internacional

On 5 January 2019, Sóbis joined Internacional for the third time, on a one-year contract.[10]

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

Sóbis made his debut for Brazil on 3 September 2006 against Argentina at the Emirates Stadium in London; Brazil won the match 3–0 with Sóbis making his appearance as last-minute substitute for Robinho.[11] He scored his first Brazil's goal in an unofficial friendly match against Kuwaiti club Al Kuwait on 7 October 2006.

He won a bronze medal with the Brazil U-23 team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in China. As a substitute in the group stage against New Zealand, he concluded a 5–0 win from Lucas Leiva's pass.[12]

Style of play

A dynamic forward, Sóbis often plays a creative role due his intelligence on the pitch, mobility, vision and passing, features that make him effective at creating chances to provide assists for teammates. Although his favored position is that of a supporting striker, he is capable to play as a winger and lone striker. Under coach Ricardo Ferretti, Sóbis played a versatile role as he was deployed as a striker in the Tigres' 4–4–2 formation, second striker in 4–4–1–1 and as a central attacking midfielder in 4–2–3–1. A right-footed accurate set-piece taker, he is also capable to pass, cross and finish with the left.[13]

Career statistics
As of 7 December 2019
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Internacional 2004 356512082509
2005 351961621235925
2006 1230012300246
2010 164005100215
2011 000051102153
Total 983211230730716948
Real Betis 2006–07 314000000314
2007–08 264000000264
Total 578000000578
Al- Jazira 2008–09 217000000217
2009–10 0000420042
Total 217004200259
Fluminense 2011 26100000002610
2012 2130091115419
2013 361010711255616
2014 3134110151515
Total 1142651172381117440
UANL 2014–15 15700124002711
2015–16 37110060004311
Total 521800184007022
Cruzeiro 2016 224600000284
2017 234115101344813
2018 1934041113387
Total 64112155124611424
Internacional 2019 2027093101466
Total 2027093101466
Internacional total 11834182391040821554
Career Total 426104448831910225655157

Honours

[14]

Club
Internacional
Fluminense
Cruzeiro
UANL

International
Brazil

Individual

References
  1. "A estrela Sobis", Leandro Behs, Placar nº. 1289, December 2005, Editora Abril, pg. 78
  2. "RELATÓRIO DA DIRETORIA (2006)" (PDF) (in Portuguese). SC Internacional. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  3. "Offer for Betis duo". Report on /www.realbetisbalompie.es. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  4. "Sobis troca Bétis pelo Al-Jazira". 2 September 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  5. "Internacional wins Libertadores Cup". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Rafael Sobis agradece ao Fluminense e se despede do clube via Instagram". Lancenet. Areté Editorial S.A Diário LANCE!. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  8. "Rafael Sobis desembarca no México, e Tigres anuncia acerto com atacante". Globo Esporte. Globo. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  9. Cruzeiro fecha contratação de Rafael Sóbis e tem nova dupla de ataque
  10. Rafael Sobis está de volta ao Beira-Rio, internacional.com.br, 5 January 2019
  11. Sinnott, John (3 September 2006). "Brazil 3-0 Argentina". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  12. "Five-star Brazil crush Kiwis". FIFA. 10 August 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. https://int.soccerway.com/players/rafael-augusto-sobis-do-nascimento/3596/
  15. "Em 2005, melhores do Campeonato Brasileiro recebem prêmio Craque do Brasileirão". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 6 December 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
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