Raphael Veiga

Raphael Cavalcante Veiga (born 19 June 1995) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Palmeiras and the Brazil national team.

Club career

Coritiba

Born in São Paulo, Veiga represented Portuguesa and Pão de Açúcar as a youth before joining Coritiba in September 2013. He spent two years in the youth setup before being promoted to the main squad in February 2016.

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. He made his Série A debut on 23 July, starting in a 1–0 away win against Santa Cruz.

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.

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. 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

Back to Palmeiras for the 2019 season, Veiga was not a regular starter under managers Luiz Felipe Scolari and Vanderlei Luxemburgo. In 2020, after the arrival of new manager Abel Ferreira, he became an undisputed first-choice and scored on a regular basis.

On 27 November 2021, Veiga scored the opener in a 2–1 win over Flamengo, in the 2021 Copa Libertadores Final.

On 12 February 2022, Veiga scored a penalty against eventual 2021 FIFA Club World Cup winners Chelsea, in a 2–1 loss.

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.