Rafa (footballer, born 2003)

Rafael Rodríguez Ruiz (born 10 July 2003), commonly known as Rafa, is a Spanish footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Málaga CF.

Club career
Born in Seville, Andalusia, Rafa joined Málaga CF's youth setup in 2017, from Real Betis. He made his senior debut with the reserves on 12 September 2021, starting in a 2–1 Tercera División RFEF away loss against Motril CF.

Rafa scored his first senior goal on 25 September 2022, netting the B's equalizer from the midfield in a 3–2 away win over UD Ciudad de Torredonjimeno. He made his first team debut the following 27 May, coming on as a late substitute for fellow youth graduate Álex Calvo in a 1–1 home draw against UD Ibiza in the Segunda División, as both sides were already relegated.