Raphael Veiga
Full nameRaphael Cavalcante Veiga[1]
Birth date19 June 1995 (age 31)[1]
Birth placeSão Paulo, Brazil
Height1.78 m[1]
PositionAttacking midfielder
CurrentclubAmérica
(on loan from Palmeiras)
Clubnumber23
Youthyears 12004–2006
Youthclubs 1Corinthians
Youthyears 22007
Youthclubs 2Fundação Mercedes-Benz
Youthyears 32008
Youthclubs 3São Paulo
Youthyears 42008–2009
Youthclubs 4Portuguesa
Youthyears 52010–2013
Youthclubs 5Audax
Youthyears 62013–2016
Youthclubs 6Coritiba
Years 12016
Clubs 1Coritiba
Caps 124
Goals 13
Years 22017–
Clubs 2Palmeiras
Caps 2384
Goals 2109
Years 32018
Clubs 3→ Atlético Paranaense (loan)
Caps 348
Goals 39
Years 42026–
Clubs 4→ América (loan)
Caps 412
Goals 43
Nationalyears 12023
Nationalteam 1Brazil
Nationalcaps 16
Nationalgoals 10
Club-update5 March 2026
Nationalteam-update21 November 2023

Raphael Cavalcante Veiga (born 19 June 1995) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Liga MX club América, on loan from Brazilian Série A and Campeonato Paulista club Palmeiras.

Club career

Coritiba

Born in São Paulo, Veiga represented Portuguesa and Audax as a youth before joining Coritiba in September 2013.[2] He spent two years in the youth setup before being promoted to the main squad in February 2016.[3]

Veiga made his professional debut on 10 March 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute for Thiago Lopes in a 3–0 Primeira Liga home win against Avaí.[4] He made his Série A debut on 23 July, starting in a 1–0 away win against Santa Cruz.[5]

Veiga scored his first goal as a senior on 3 August 2016, but in a 1–3 loss at Vitória.

Palmeiras

After 19 league appearances and three goals, Veiga was sold to Palmeiras on 19 December, signing a five-year contract.[6]

Loan to Atlético Paranaense

On 2 January 2018, after being sparingly used by Verdão, Veiga moved to Atlético Paranaense on a one-year loan deal.[7] While on loan, he became a regular starter, and scored seven goals as the club finished seventh; he was also an important unit in the 2018 Copa Sudamericana, as Furacão ended up champions.

Breakthrough

Upon his return to Palmeiras in 2019, he initially struggled for playing time. His fortunes shifted dramatically in 2020 under managers Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Abel Ferreira, he became a key goal scorer in decisive matches and an integral figure in the club's trophy-laden campaign, which culminated in Copa Libertadores glory.

Between 2021 and 2022, Veiga delivered standout performances in major finals, such as the Copa Libertadores against Flamengo, the FIFA Club World Cup against Chelsea, and the Recopa Sudamericana. He also became the club’s top scorer in the Libertadores and captained the team for the first time. A serious ankle injury in 2022 temporarily interrupted his progress, but he returned in 2023 to play a central role in further triumphs, including the Supercopa do Brasil.

In 2024, Veiga reached significant milestones: surpassing 100 career goals, becoming Palmeiras’ leading scorer of the 21st century alongside Dudu, and completing 300 appearances for the club. Later that year, he scored his 100th goal for Palmeiras.[8]

The 2025 season brought challenges, with a dip in form and more time spent as a substitute. Despite this, he contributed decisive goals in the Copa Libertadores semifinal against LDU, helping the team overturn a first-leg deficit and advance to the final.[9]

Loan to Club América

On 3 February 2026, Veiga joined Club América on a one-year loan.[10]

International career

Veiga received his first call-up to the Brazil national team in March 2023 for a friendly match away against Morocco. Veiga was subbed on in the 65th minute in a 2–1 loss.

Veiga was called up again in June 2023, where he was used as a sub in both of the Seleção's matches during that international break, during a 4-1 against Guinea and a 4-2 loss against Senegal, both being friendly matches.

In September 2023, Veiga was included in Brazil's squad for their matches against Bolivia and Peru in the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. He was an unused sub during Brazil's 5-1 victory over Bolivia, but was subbed on in stoppage time in their match against Peru, which Brazil won 1-0.

Career statistics

Club

[11]

ClubSeasonLeagueState league[a]Copa do BrasilContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Coritiba2016Série A1930010—1[b]0213
Palmeiras2017Série A11071101[c]0—201
201919341106[c]1—305
20202611918410[c]22[d]05518
20213110402012[c]53[e]35218
2022193137329[c]64[d]34821
20233191434110[c]31[f]26018
2024341112740721[f]05820
202525214210934[f]0537
2026003000000[f]030
Total1964980222476422209384109
Atlético Paranaense (loan)2018Série A317—7010[g]2—489
Career total2465980223277424219453121
  1. ^ Includes Campeonato Paranaense, Campeonato Paulista
  2. ^ Appearance in Primeira Liga
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  4. ^ Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  5. ^ One appearance and two goals in Supercopa do Brasil, two appearances and one goal in Recopa Sudamericana
  6. ^ Appearance in Supercopa do Brasil
  7. ^ Appearances in Copa Sudamericana

Honours

Club

Palmeiras

Atlético Paranaense

Individual

References

  1. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ – Squad List: Palmeiras (BRA)". FIFA. 4 July 2025. p. 25. Archived 13 July 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Meia é destaque no Coritiba no Brasileiro, mas já foi reprovado como goleiro no Corinthians" [Midfielder is Coritiba's spotlight in the Brasileiro, but was already refused as a goalkeeper at Corinthians] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Estudante de educação física, Raphael Veiga é promovido ao grupo do Coxa" [Physical education student, Raphael Veiga is promoted to Coxa's squad] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Em clima de amistoso, Coritiba vence o Avaí na despedida da Primeira Liga" [In a friendly fashion, Coritiba defeat Avaí in Primeira Liga's farewell] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Contra o Santa Cruz, Coritiba vence a primeira fora de casa e sai do Z-4" [Against Santa Cruz, Coritiba win the first away from home and leave Z-4] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Palmeiras anuncia acerto com meia Raphael Veiga por cinco anos" [Palmeiras announce deal with midfielder Raphael Veiga for five years] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Palmeiras acerta empréstimo de Raphael Veiga ao Atlético-PR" [Palmeiras complete loan of Raphael Veiga to Atlético-PR] (in Portuguese). Lance!. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Raphael Veiga marca seu 100º gol pelo Palmeiras" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Raphael Veiga marca seu 100º gol pelo Palmeiras. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Veiga renasce no Palmeiras: meia sai do banco e volta a brilhar" (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  10. ^ "¿Quién es Raphael Veiga, el nuevo refuerzo de América?" (in Spanish). ESPN.com.mx. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  11. ^
  12. ^ "Confira todos os ganhadores do Troféu Mesa Redonda 2021 - Gazeta Esportiva". www.gazetaesportiva.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Palmeiras tem maioria no Troféu Mesa Redonda; Estêvão é craque e revelação" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 9 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Sem Abel, Palmeiras domina seleção do Paulistão; veja time ideal e outros prêmios" [Without Abel, Palmeiras dominate the Paulistão best XI; see the team and other awards] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.