Rafael Martins (footballer, born 1989)

Clecildo Rafael Martins de Souza Ladislau (born 17 March 1989), known as Martins, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Primeira Liga club Santa Clara.

Club career
Born in Santos, São Paulo, Martins joined Audax São Paulo Esporte Clube's youth setup in 2003, aged 14. In December 2007, he signed with Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense on loan, and was promoted to the latter's main squad in 2009.

Martins made his professional debut on 21 January 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw at Esporte Clube Internacional. He returned to his parent club in September, and subsequently served loans at Deportivo Aragón and Grêmio Prudente Futebol before being assigned to Audax's first team.

Martins joined ABC Futebol Clube in March 2011 after impressing in the state leagues, but was rarely used by his new team, returning to Audax in December. He continued to find the net at an excellent rate in the following two years, and moved to Vitória F.C. on loan on 8 July 2013.

After ranking third in the goal charts for the Portuguese side to help them finish in seventh position in the Primeira Liga in his only season, Martins signed a three-year contract with La Liga's Levante UD on 18 July 2014. He made his debut in the competition on 24 August, replacing David Barral in the 71st minute of a 0–2 home loss against Villarreal CF.

On 25 August 2015, after being sparingly used by the Valencians, Martins returned to Portugal and its top division after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Moreirense FC. He scored 16 goals in his only season, being essential as the Miguel Leal-led side finished 12th and avoided relegation while becoming the club's all-time scorer in the competition after surpassing Nabil Ghilas.

From January 2017 to June 2018, Martins represented Vitória S.C. also in the Portuguese top tier. On 3 July 2018, he moved to the China League One with Zhejiang Greentown FC.

Martins returned to Portugal in January 2021, joining Moreirense on a five-month contract. Having netted seven times until the end of the top-flight campaign, he was rewarded with a one-year extension.

On 27 July 2022, after suffering relegation to the Liga Portugal 2, Martins signed a two-year deal with Casa Pia A.C. who had in turn promoted. He made his debut on 7 August in a 0–0 draw away to C.D. Santa Clara, and scored his first goal two weeks later to open a 2–0 home win over Boavista FC.

Martins went back to the second tier on 30 August 2023, on a two-year contract at recently-relegated Santa Clara.

Career statistics


Honours
Santa Clara
 * Liga Portugal 2: 2023–24