Rafael Cabral played every match last year across MLS, Leagues Cup, and the Concacaf Champions Cup. He’ll look to keep it going in 2026.
Real Salt Lake is gearing up for another season. This is the Club’s 21st season, and they are once again calling upon a strong goalkeeper. Real Salt Lake hasn’t had a consistant goalkeeper since Nick Rimando, but Cabral seems to be the guy. RSL had a few great goalkeepers in David Ochoa, Zach MacMath, and Gavin Beavers, but they didn’t shine like Cabral has. Of course, the other three were good, but Cabral has just taken it to another level. Rafael is going to be a fun player to watch in 2026.
Real Salt Lake signed Cabral prior to the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup First round against Herinado. Cabral kept a clean sheet in the first leg, but conceded two goals in the reverse fixture. Of course, the two goals were allowed because of poor defense and bad turnovers, but Cabral was beaten. Cabral bounced back and kept RSL in many critical matches. Cabral was given the loving nickname “Wall of Cabral” by the RSL faithful, and he earned it. Cabral made big saves, including a few saves that lifted RSL over Mexican Giant Club America in a penalty shootout in last year’s Leagues Cup.
Rafael Cabral is a Brazilian Goalkeeper, who held the line last year, putting up nine clean sheets in 42 competitive matches. Standing at Sorocaba-born goalkeeper won the RSL MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2025. Cabral was the team captain for much of last season, and led the boys in Claret and Cobalt to key victories, including a few big saves at Saint Louis to keep RSL’s playoff hopes alive. Cabral saved four penalties, and made himself a sure starter for RSL.
Rafael Cabral has been a fun player to watch, and I hope he sticks around for a while more, because RSL needs someone consistent and talented to protect the net for the next few years while the young goalkeepers develop. Cabral has me exctied in ways I haven’t been since Rimando, and this could be a sign of good things to come. Goalkeeping is a tough position, and it is never as easy as it looks. So RSL fans should be glad to have him.
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