A product of the Seixal academy in every sense, Rafael Luís joined Benfica's youth setup in 2010 and climbed every rung of the club's formation ladder. Born in Amadora, the tall defensive midfielder signed an academy contract in February 2019 before putting pen to paper on his first professional deal in June 2022, when he was promoted to the B team.

He became a regular presence in Liga Portugal 2 with Benfica B, gathering more than fifty appearances in the second tier, and in September 2023 he extended his commitment to the Eagles until 2028. In the summer of 2025 he was included in the senior squad for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, and shortly afterwards he joined French side RC Strasbourg on loan for the 2025/26 campaign, where he added valuable top-flight experience. Strasbourg declined to exercise their purchase option and the midfielder returned to the Estádio da Luz in 2026.

Internationally, he has represented Portugal at every youth level from Under-16 through to the Under-21 side, featuring at the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.