Rafael José Mestre Quintas (born 8 March 2008) is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Benfica.
Born in Lisbon, Quintas joined Benfica in 2013. There, he distinguished himself with the youth categories of the team. He was given the captainâÂÂs armband after signing his first professional contract in April 2024.
Quintas was named in Portugal U17's squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. As the team captain, Quintas made an immediate impact by netting the first goal in the competitionâÂÂs opening game against host nation Albania. Portugal then progressed to the final after overcoming Italy on penalties in the semi-finals. They then claimed the trophy by defeating France 3âÂÂ0 in the final. A key player in Portugal's victorious campaign, Quintas was named as the Player of the Tournament, having started every match.
Portugal U17
Individual