Raphael Borges Rodrigues
Australian soccer player (born 2003)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Raphael Borges Rodrigues (born 11 September 2003) is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic on loan from EFL Championship club Coventry City. Born in the Netherlands, he represents Australia at youth international level.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Raphael Borges Rodrigues[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 September 2003[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Maastricht, Netherlands[2] | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wigan Athletic (on loan from Coventry City) | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Western Strikers | |||
| 2015 | Adelaide Raiders | ||
| 2015–2017 | SA NTC | ||
| 2018–2019 | Melbourne City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2023 | Melbourne City NPL | 20 | (14) |
| 2020–2023 | Melbourne City | 12 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Macarthur FC | 26 | (4) |
| 2024– | Coventry City | 2 | (0) |
| 2025– | → Wigan Athletic (loan) | 22 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | Australia U20 | 5 | (1) |
| 2023– | Australia U23 | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 February 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 September 2022 | |||
Early life
Raphael was born in Maastricht, Netherlands to Cristiano dos Santos Rodrigues, a former professional footballer.[3] He moved to Adelaide, South Australia, with his family at the age of eight, while his extended family remained in his father's hometown, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[3] Raphael attended St Michael's College in Henley Beach, South Australia and Parade College in Bundoora, Victoria.[3][4] He started playing football in Adelaide for Western Strikers before moving to Melbourne.
Club career
Melbourne City
Raphael joined Melbourne City Youth in 2017 and signed a three-year scholarship contract in September 2019.[5][6] He re-signed for a season in October 2021, with an option to extend, after making five senior appearances since his first-team debut in the 2019–20 season, aged 16.[7] Raphael made his first start for Melbourne City in the Melbourne Derby on 6 June 2021.[8] He was named on the bench in the 2021 A-League Grand Final, being a part of City's first A-League trophy.[9]
On 23 March 2022, Raphael scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 win over Brisbane Roar at Moreton Daily Stadium.[10] Raphael was released by the club in June 2023.[11][12]
Macarthur FC
On 27 June 2023, Raphael was announced to have signed for Macarthur FC on a two-year contract.[13][14] In the 2023–24 season, Raphael managed three goals and two assists for the Bulls by February 2024.[15] He finished the campaign for Macarthur with six goals in 33 appearances across all competitions.[16]
Coventry City
On 24 May 2024, Raphael was announced to have signed with EFL Championship club Coventry City. He signed a four-year deal with the West Midlands club, expiring in June 2028.[17]
Loan to Wigan Athletic
On 1 September 2025, Raphael joined Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan for the 2025–26 season.[18]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Melbourne City NPL | 2019 | NPL Victoria 2 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | ||||
| 2021 | NPL Victoria 3 | 8 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 5 | |||||
| 2022 | NPL Victoria 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | |||||
| 2023 | NPL Victoria 2 | 5 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | |||||
| Total | 25 | 17 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 17 | ||||||
| Melbourne City | 2019–20 | A-League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21 | A-League | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 2021–22 | A-League Men | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 1 | — | 10 | 2 | |||
| 2022–23 | A-League Men | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |||
| Macarthur FC | 2023–24 | A-League Men | 26 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 7[d] | 2 | — | 35 | 6 | ||
| Coventry City | 2024–25 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26 | Championship | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2025–26 | League One | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| Career total | 83 | 23 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 104 | 26 | ||
- Includes Australia Cup, FA Cup
- Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League
Honours
Melbourne City
- A-League Men Premiership: 2022–23[21]