Born in Vila Franca de Xira and raised in Forte da Casa, the elusive forward took his first steps at Povoense and Alverca before turning professional with Feirense in 2012.

A move to Braga in 2013 brought him to national prominence: he made 127 appearances for the Minho club, scoring 26 goals and lifting the Taça de Portugal in 2016. That summer Benfica invested 16.4 million euros to bring him to the Estádio da Luz.

Over eight seasons he became one of the most decisive players of his generation in red, winning three Primeira Liga titles, the Taça de Portugal and three Supertaças Cândido de Oliveira. His finest campaign came in 2018-19, when he scored a career-best 17 league goals, and he was voted SL Benfica Player of the Year in 2022.

Capped 25 times by Portugal between 2014 and 2021, he went to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and was a European champion at UEFA Euro 2016 and a UEFA Nations League winner in 2019, also featuring at Euro 2020.

After leaving for Beşiktaş in June 2024, Rafa returned home on 22 January 2026, signing until June 2028.