Raí

Raí Souza Vieira de Oliveira, born on 15 May 1965 in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, became one of the country’s leading attacking midfielders during the late 1980s and 1990s. The younger brother of Sócrates, he developed at Botafogo-SP, made his first-team debut in 1984, and moved to Ponte Preta in 1987. Later that year, São Paulo signed him. There, his tall frame, close control, penalty-taking and capacity to arrive in the box made him a pivotal player in Telê Santana’s team. At São Paulo, Raí won Campeonato Paulista titles in 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1992, the 1991 Brazilian championship, and consecutive Copa Libertadores trophies in 1992 and 1993. As captain, he led São Paulo against Barcelona in the 1992 Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo. Goals by Raí and Müller gave the Brazilian side a 2–1 victory over Johan Cruyff’s European champions. That result made São Paulo world club champions. The club defended its Libertadores crown in 1993, beating Universidad Católica, but Raí had joined Paris Saint-Germain before São Paulo’s later Intercontinental Cup win over AC Milan. PSG bought Raí in 1993. His first season was difficult, yet he became captain and a major figure in the club’s mid-1990s successes. PSG won Ligue 1 in 1993–94, the Coupe de France in 1994–95 and 1997–98, and the Coupe de la Ligue in 1994–95 and 1997–98 during his spell. His most enduring Paris achievement came in the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final in Brussels: he scored the only goal as PSG defeated Rapid Wien 1–0. It remains PSG’s only major European trophy. Raí played 49 matches and scored 15 goals for Brazil. He helped Brazil win the 1991 Copa América and was selected for the 1994 World Cup squad in the United States. Initially the national team captain, he lost his starting role during the tournament; Brazil defeated Italy on penalties in the final. Returning to São Paulo in 1998, he ended his playing career in 2000. Away from football, Raí and former Brazil teammate Leonardo created Fundação Gol de Letra in 1998. The organization uses educational, cultural and sporting programs with children and young people in socially vulnerable communities. Raí later served as São Paulo’s president from 2014 to 2017, a period that included the club’s 2016 Copa Libertadores qualification but no major title. His connection to São Paulo and PSG has made him an emblematic figure for both clubs and their supporters worldwide.