Rafael Ramos

Early years

Born in Santa Marinha, Seia, Guarda District, Ramos started out his career with Sporting CP before being released in 2012. He then joined Real S.C. for one year before moving to S.L. Benfica's youth system in 2013, where he joined the under-19 squad. He was part of the squad that competed in the 2013–14 UEFA Youth League. On 5 May 2014, Ramos signed a contract to stay with Benfica until 2020.

Orlando City

On 8 July 2014, Ramos and Benfica teammate Estrela were transferred to Orlando City SC of the USL Pro, the third level of the United States soccer league system, on 31⁄2-year professional contracts as part of an affiliation between the two clubs. The contracts would include the remainder of the 2014 USL Pro season before the team joined Major League Soccer in 2015. The pair made their professional debuts on 23 August against Richmond Kickers, in which Ramos scored a 70th-minute winner in a 3–2 away victory. Head coach Adrian Heath said of them after the game, "I thought that the two new players (Estrela and Ramos) were outstanding, considering that they haven't played for two or three weeks. Their contribution was massive..." Ramos played in Orlando's first MLS game on 8 March 2015, a 1–1 home draw with fellow expansion team New York City FC. He was sent off twice over the season, for a foul on Waylon Francis in a 3–0 loss at Columbus Crew on 19 April, and a 36th-minute challenge on Justin Morrow in a 5–0 loss at Toronto FC on 22 August. He…

As of match played 19 July 2023

Ramos holds a U.S. green card which qualified him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.

Benfica U20 UEFA Youth League: runner-up 2013–14 Twente Eerste Divisie: 2018–19 Corinthians Copa do Brasil: runner-up 2022 Ceará Campeonato Cearense: 2024, 2025; runner-up: 2026