{{short description|Brazilian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Portuguese name|Tonioli|Defendi}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Rafael Defendi | image = | fullname = Rafael Garcia Tonioli Defendi | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|12|22|df=y}} | birth_place = Ribeirão Preto, Brazil | height = {{height|m=1.91}} | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = Vila Meã | clubnumber = 1 | youthyears1 = 2001 | youthclubs1 = Botafogo | youthyears2 = 2003 | youthclubs2 = Santos | years1 = 2004–2006 | clubs1 = Flamengo | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 2007 | clubs2 = Flamengo | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 2007 | clubs3 = Grêmio Anápolis | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 2007−2008 | clubs4 = Aves | caps4 = 6 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2008 | clubs5 = Grêmio Anápolis | caps5 = | goals5 = | years6 = 2009 | clubs6 = Sertãozinho | caps6 = | goals6 = | years7 = 2009−2010 | clubs7 = Mirassol | caps7 = 2 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2010−2011 | clubs8 = Bragantino | caps8 = 2 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2011−2012 | clubs9 = Audax | caps9 = 5 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2012 | clubs10 = Monte Azul | caps10 = | goals10 = | years11 = 2013−2014 | clubs11 = Bragantino | caps11 = 13 | goals11 = 0 | years12 = 2014–2018 | clubs12 = Paços de Ferreira | caps12 = 78 | goals12 = 0 | years13 = 2018–2020 | clubs13 = Famalicão | caps13 = 40 | goals13 = 0 | years14 = 2020–2023 | clubs14 = Farense | caps14 = 53 | goals14 = 0 | pcupdate = 18:24, 7 November 2023 (UTC) | years15 = 2023– | clubs15 = Vila Meã | caps15 = 1 | goals15 = 0 }}
'''Rafael Garcia Tonioli Defendi''' (born 22 December 1983) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Campeonato de Portugal club Vila Meã.
==Career== Born in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Defendi passed through Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas and Santos F.C. youth systems, in his early career. In 2007, he made his first move abroad and joined C.D. Aves, making his professional debut on 18 August 2007 in a 2–1 home loss against S.C. Olhanense.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}} He only added six league appearances throughout the season before returning to Brazil.
After several years in his home country, mostly at the regional level, in July 2014, Defendi returned to Portugal, joining Paços de Ferreira,<ref>{{cite news|title=Rafael Defendi acerta com time português e Bragantino contrata substituto|trans-title=Rafael Defendi signs with Portuguese team, Bragantino hires replacement|url=http://esporte.ig.com.br/futebol/2014-07-18/rafael-defendi-acerta-com-time-portugues-e-bragantino-contrata-substituto.html|work=esporte.ig.com.br|date=18 July 2014|language=Portuguese}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rafael Defendi será titular|trans-title=Rafael Defendi will be the starter goalkeeper|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/p--ferreira/detalhe/rafael-defendi-sera-titular-899885.html|work=Record|date=15 August 2014|language=Portuguese}}</ref> being first choice most of the season, battling with António Filipe for the position.
On 9 July 2018, Defendi signed a two-year deal with LigaPro side F.C. Famalicão.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rafael Defendi assina pelo Famalicão até 2020|trans-title=Rafael Defendi signs for Famalicão until 2020 |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/famalicao/detalhe/rafael-defendi-assina-pelo-famalicao-ate-2020 |accessdate=8 September 2019 |work=Record |date=9 July 2018 |language=Portuguese}}</ref> He played all but one game in his first season as they finished runners-up and were promoted to the top flight after a 25-year absence; on 3 March 2019 he and Capela were sent off in a 1–1 home draw with FC Porto B.<ref>{{cite news |title=Famalicão atrasa-se ao empatar com FC Porto B num jogo em que acabou com nove|trans-title=Famalicão hold on to a draw with FC Porto in a match that ended with nine |url=https://www.dn.pt/lusa/interior/famalicao-atrasa-se-ao-empatar-com-fc-porto-b-num-jogo-em-que-acabou-com-nove-10640809.html |accessdate=8 September 2019 |work=Diário de Notícias |date=3 March 2019 |language=Portuguese}}</ref>
==Personal life== He is the older brother of Rodrigo Defendi, also a professional footballer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rafael Defendi, goleiro até no sobrenome|trans-title=Rafael Defendi, a Goalkeeper even in its name|url=http://www.verminososporfutebol.com.br/deu-a-louca/rafael-defendi-goleiro-ate-no-sobrenome/|work=Verminosos por Futebol|date=2 August 2014|language=Portuguese}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerway|rafael-garcia-tonioli-defendi/56704}} *{{ForaDeJogo}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Defendi, Rafael}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Ribeirão Preto Category:Brazilian men's footballers Category:Brazilian people of Italian descent Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Esporte Clube Noroeste players Category:Comercial Futebol Clube (Ribeirão Preto) players Category:C.D. Aves players Category:Sertãozinho Futebol Clube players Category:Mirassol Futebol Clube players Category:Grêmio Osasco Audax Esporte Clube players Category:Clube Atlético Bragantino players Category:F.C. Paços de Ferreira players Category:F.C. Famalicão players Category:S.C. Farense players Category:AC Vila Meã players Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série B players Category:Primeira Liga players Category:Liga Portugal 2 players Category:Campeonato de Portugal (league) players Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal Category:21st-century Brazilian sportsmen