In 2003, Rafael was named European Talent of the Year by readers of prestigious Italian football magazine, Calcio Manager.

Rafael’s mother, Lolita, comes from Spain, and as a result he could also have elected to play for the Spanish national team. His maternal grandparents, Rafael Snr and Dolores live in Andalucia.

While at Ajax, Rafael helped the club win the annual pre-season Amsterdam Tournament no less than five times. His best personal performance in the competition came in 2002, when he scored twice in a spectacular 4-3 win over Barcelona, the winner in the final against Inter Milan and was voted player of the tournament.

In 2005, Rafael married his girlfriend, Sylvie Meis, a leading Dutch actress, model and TV presenter.

Rafael met his future wife, the actress Sylvie Meis, after seeing her on TV and deciding to send her a birthday present – an Ajax shirt. According to Sylvie, when they went on a date, it was “love at first sight.“

Rafael first joined Ajax at the age of just 10, after impressing academy coaches during an ‘open day’ for talented youngsters.

In the course of his first 18 months in the Bundesliga, SV Hamburg remained unbeaten away from home whenever Rafael was in the side.

Six years after making his international debut, Rafael made his 50th appearance for Holland in November 2007, in the European Championship qualifier against Belarus in Minsk. He marked the occasion by scoring his 12th goal for his country.

At the age of 18, before making his debut for the senior Oranje team, Rafael was representing Holland simultaneously at three different levels: U-19, U-20 and U-21.

Rafael is a keen tennis fan, and a particular admirer of former US great Pete Sampras.

At the start of the 2007/08 season Rafael scored in seven consecutive games for SV Hamburg to equal the club record, set by the legendary Uwe Seeler in the 1963/64 season.

Rafael spent the first 17 years of his life living in a caravan, though says “it felt more like a house.” And as a youngster, he honed his ball skills during kick-abouts in the caravan park.

At the halfway point of the 2007/08 season, Rafael had 35 efforts on target –more than any other player in the Bundesliga – despite the fact that he operates from midfield.

When he joined Real Madrid in August 2008, Rafael became the fifth Dutchman in the Merengue squad. The others are Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Royston Drenthe.

By the halfway point of the 2007/08 season, Rafael had recorded 35 efforts on target –more than any other player in the Bundesliga – despite the fact that he operates from midfield.

Association: Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbal Bond
First match: 1905
Nickname: Oranje

HONOURS:
World Cup
Appearances: 8 (First in 1934)
Best results: Finalist 1974 and 1978, semifinalist 1998.

European Championship
Appearances: 8 (First in 1976)
Best results: Winners 1988, semifinalists 1976, 1992, 2000 and 2004.

Olympics
Appearances: 7 (First in 1908)
Best results: Bronze medals in 1908, 1912 and 1920.

Website: www.knvb.nl