Hubbry Logo
Rodrigo TabataRodrigo TabataMain
Open search
Rodrigo Tabata
Community hub
Rodrigo Tabata
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Rodrigo Tabata
Rodrigo Tabata
from Wikipedia

Rodrigo Barbosa Tabata (born 19 November 1980) or simply Rodrigo Tabata, is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Qatari club Al Kharaitiyat. Born in Brazil, he played for the Qatar national team.

Key Information

Club career

[edit]

Career in Brazil

[edit]

Tabata was born in Araçatuba, Brazil, of Japanese descent. Earlier in his career, he was a journeyman and played for 11 different clubs between 1999 and 2003. In 2004, he moved to Goiás, playing the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A for the first time. His good performances helped his club finishing in 3rd place in the 2005 edition, the best position Goiás ever achieved in the top flight and qualifying for the Copa Libertadores for the first time in its history.[2]

Tabata was purchased by Santos in 2006, where he won twice the Campeonato Paulista in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, he moved abroad to Gaziantepspor in a three-year loan deal with an option to a permanent purchase.[3][4]

Gaziantepspor and Beşiktaş

[edit]
Tabata playing for Beşiktaş at 2009–10

After a successful season with Gaziantepspor, Tabata moved to Beşiktaş for €8 million transfer fee.[5] The transfer caused controversy at Santos as the Brazilian club claimed that they have not received the fee from Gaziantepspor to make the deal permanent before the deal was finished between the Turkish clubs.[6]

Tabata played one full season at Beşiktaş before moving on loan to Al Rayyan in 2010, later being purchased by the Qatari side in 2011.

Al Rayyan

[edit]
Tabata after winning the 2012 Sheikh Jassim Cup

In late 2011, the Al Rayyan administration asked Tabata, who has Japanese grandparents,[7][8] to obtain a Japanese passport for reasons relating to the foreign player quota of the AFC Champions League. However, Tabata failed the prerequisites as he was unable to write or read the Japanese language.[9]

He received a $100,000 cash award on 8 April 2012 for scoring a super hat-trick (4 goals) against Qatar SC in a league game to give his team an 8–2 win, which was the highest scoring game recorded in the league for the 2011–12 season.[10] He also won the player of the year award in the Qatar Stars League that season, recording 17 goals and 9 assists.[11]

Loan to Al Sadd

[edit]

On 31 January 2014, he signed a loan deal with another Qatari club and title holders Al Sadd. He returned to Al Rayyan in 2015.

Al Sadd

[edit]

In July 2020, Tabata signed with Al Sadd for one year.[12] He then returned to Al Rayyan in 2023.

According to IFFHS, Tabata was the fourth-oldest player in the world to play a match in the top tier of a national league in 2024, at the age of 44 years and 18 days, in his last Qatar Stars League game in 2024 against Qatar SC, which ended in a 2–1 loss.[13]

Al Kharaitiyat

[edit]

In August 2025, Tabata signed for Qatari Second Division side Al Kharaitiyat.[14]

International career

[edit]

After years of playing in Qatar, he became a naturalized Qatari citizen and was therefore eligible for the Brazilian and Qatari national football teams. In August 2015, Tabata was selected for the Qatar national team's camp in Austria. His unofficial debut came in a friendly against Austrian club LASK Linz on 17 August 2015.[15] He made his official debut in a FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Hong Kong in a 2–0 win.[16]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 24 January 2025[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Treze 2002 Série C 2 0 2[b] 2 4 2
XV de Novembro 2003 Série A3 3 1 0 0 3 1
América(RN) 2003 Série B 5 2 0 0 0 0 5 2
Campinense 2003 Série C 17 4 0 0 8[c] 5 25 9
Goiás 2004 Série A 37 10 5 1 4[d] 2 14[c] 9 60 22
2005 39 8 0 0 2[d] 0 12[c] 4 53 12
Total 76 18 5 1 6 2 26 13 113 34
Santos 2006 Série A 36 8 5 0 4[d] 0 18[e] 2 63 10
2007 37 7 0 0 10[f] 1 20[e] 4 67 12
2008 6 0 0 0 4[f] 0 11[e] 1 21 1
Total 79 15 5 0 18 1 49 7 151 23
Gaziantepspor 2008–09 Süper Lig 26 11 5 2 31 13
2009–10 3 1 0 0 3 1
Total 29 12 5 2 34 14
Beşiktaş 2009–10 Süper Lig 16 2 2 0 3[g] 0 0 0 21 2
2010–11 14 0 3 0 10[h] 0 27 0
Total 30 2 5 0 13 0 0 0 48 2
Al-Rayyan (loan) 2010–11 Qatar Stars League 11 7 3 4 4[i] 0 1 0 19 11
Al-Rayyan 2011–12 Qatar Stars League 21 17 1 0 6[i] 3 4 5 32 25
2012–13 22 11 3 1 4[i] 1 7 3 36 16
2013–14 16 4 0 0 5 6 21 10
2014–15 Qatari Second Division 8 21 4 4 7 5 19 30
2015–16 Qatar Stars League 24 21 2 3 1 0 27 24
2016–17 24 20 3 4 6[i] 4 2 0 35 28
2017–18 21 15 3 3 5[i] 2 6 2 35 22
2018–19 20 9 2 1 6[i] 1 7 6 35 17
2019–20 16 4 2 1 1[i] 0 5 4 24 9
Total 172 122 20 17 28 11 44 31 264 181
Al-Sadd (loan) 2013–14 Qatar Stars League 7 5 3 2 7[i] 2 3 1 20 10
Al-Sadd (loan) 2014–15 Qatar Stars League 15 8 0 0 2[i] 0 1 1 18 9
Al-Sadd 2019–20 Qatar Stars League 4 1 1 0 5[i] 1 1 1 11 3
2020–21 21 11 3 0 3[i] 0 7 3 34 14
2021–22 21 7 3 1 5[i] 3 29 11
2022–23 13 4 3 0 0 0 6 3 22 7
Total 81 36 13 3 22 6 18 9 134 54
Al-Rayyan 2023–24 Qatar Stars League 14 2 3 0 0 0 7 2 24 4
2024–25 10 0 0 0 2 0 6 2 18 2
Total 24 2 3 0 2 0 13 4 42 6
Career total 528 222 61 27 93 20 161 71 843 340
  1. ^ Includes Copa do Brasil, Turkish Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Copa do Nordeste
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in Campeonato Paraibano
  4. ^ a b c Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
  5. ^ a b c Appearances in Campeonato Paulista
  6. ^ a b Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  7. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  8. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Appearances in AFC Champions League

International

[edit]
Scores and results list Qatar's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rodrigo Tabata goal.[17]
List of international goals scored by Rodrigo Tabata
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 8 August 2016 Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Iraq 1–0 2–1 Friendly
2 25 August 2016 Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Thailand 2–0 3–0 Friendly

Honours

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Rodrigo Barbosa Tabata is a Brazilian-born professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Al-Kharaitiyat SC in the . Born on November 19, 1980, in Araçatuba, , he stands at 1.70 meters tall and holds dual citizenship in and , having naturalized in the Gulf state after a long career there. Tabata joined his current club on August 25, 2025, with his contract running until June 30, 2026. Tabata's career began in Brazilian football, where he developed in the youth ranks of Paulista FC and went on to play as a for multiple clubs in the lower divisions and Série A between 1999 and 2007, including notable stints with Goiás EC and , the latter where he contributed to the 2006–07 title. In 2008, he moved to Europe, signing with Turkish club , where he excelled in the , scoring 11 goals in 29 appearances during the 2008–09 season before transferring to in January 2010. With , he helped secure the 2010–11 and recorded 6 assists in 14 league matches that season, bringing his total Turkish league stats to 59 appearances, 14 goals, and 17 assists. Tabata returned to Asia in 2011, joining Qatari side , marking the start of a prolific 14-year tenure in the that solidified his legacy as one of the league's most enduring foreign imports. Over the years, he played for several top Qatari clubs, including a second stint at (2023–2025), Al-Sadd SC (2019–2023), where he won three consecutive league titles from 2019–20 to 2021–22, as well as (multiple spells, including 2011–2016 and 2018–19), contributing to their 2018–19 championship. He also secured two Cups and was recognized individually as Qatar's Footballer of the Year in 2012 and 2016, and Player of the Year in the 2011–12 and 2015–16 seasons. Additionally, Tabata earned the top scorer honor in the 2014–15 while on loan. On the international stage, Tabata debuted for the Qatar national team in March 2016 following his naturalization, accumulating 18 caps and 2 goals over 18 months, primarily in World Cup qualifiers and friendlies, including scores against and . He served as captain during this period and participated in AFC Champions League campaigns with his clubs, showcasing his versatility as an attacking midfielder capable of playing on the wings. As of the 2025–26 season, at age 44, Tabata continues to contribute, having scored 1 goal in QSL Cup appearances for Al-Kharaitiyat.

Club career

Early career in Brazil

Rodrigo Tabata was born in , on November 19, 1980. Tabata began his professional career at the age of 18 with Paulista in 1999, where he made 5 appearances and scored 2 goals during his debut season. His formative years involved frequent transfers across lower-tier clubs, reflecting a typical path for young players seeking consistent playing time and development as an attacking midfielder. Between 2000 and 2003, he played for several teams in state and regional leagues, as detailed below:
YearClubAppearancesGoals
2000São Bento72
2001Santo André51
2001Ferroviário50
2001Inter de Limeira64
2002Treze73
2002Serrano-PB21
200230
2003XV de 31
2003América-RN52
2003Campinense-PB174
These stints helped hone his skills amid competitive environments in Brazil's lower divisions. Tabata achieved his breakthrough with from 2004 to 2005, appearing in 76 matches and netting 18 goals, which showcased his emergence as a key creative force in the midfield. He then joined Santos in 2006, remaining with the club through 2009 and contributing 79 appearances along with 15 goals, further solidifying his reputation in Série A before pursuing opportunities abroad.

Time in Turkey

Rodrigo Tabata's move to marked his entry into European football, beginning with a loan from Santos to in July 2008. Despite initial adaptation challenges to the physicality and pace of the , his technical proficiency—rooted in Brazilian training—enabled a strong debut season, where he featured in 26 league matches, starting 25, and netted 11 goals with 6 assists, contributing to Gaziantepspor's 8th-place finish. Including cup competitions, he recorded 34 appearances and 14 goals overall, establishing himself as a standout creative with flair in playmaking and scoring. Following his impressive form, Tabata secured a permanent transfer to in August 2009 for a reported €8 million fee, signing a three-year contract. At the club, he transitioned into a key attacking role, leveraging his vision and dribbling to support the team's dynamics in the and European competitions. In the 2009–2010 league campaign, he made 16 appearances with 2 goals and 4 assists; the following season saw reduced involvement with 14 outings, 0 goals, and 6 assists, partly due to competition for positions and minor form dips. Notable contributions included assists in crucial matches, such as against rivals in the , underscoring his reputation as a creative force despite not replicating his scoring rate. Over his two years at , Tabata accumulated 30 league appearances and 2 goals, totaling 48 games and 3 goals across all competitions. His tenure ended with a loan to in January 2011, prompted by limited starting opportunities, leading to a permanent departure that summer. Across his Turkish spell from 2008 to 2011, Tabata tallied 59 appearances and 14 goals in all competitions, solidifying his impact as a skilled import in the before shifting focus to the .

First stint at Al Rayyan

Rodrigo Tabata joined on loan from in January 2011, marking his entry into Qatari football after a stint in the Turkish . His performances during the latter part of the 2010–11 season, where he featured in 11 matches and netted 7 goals, impressed club officials and paved the way for a permanent transfer that summer. This move solidified his position as a key attacking , leveraging his prior experience in to facilitate a smooth adaptation to the physical and tactical demands of the . In his debut full season of 2011–12, Tabata emerged as a standout performer, scoring 17 goals in 20 league appearances and contributing 3 more in the AFC Champions League, while earning the Qatar Stars League Player of the Year award for his pivotal role in Al Rayyan's campaign. Over the subsequent years, he demonstrated consistent goal-scoring prowess, including 21 league goals in 2015–16 to claim the top scorer honor and help secure the Qatar Stars League title, as well as 20 goals in the 2016–17 season amid another strong title challenge. These contributions, often exceeding 15 goals per season in the league, underscored his reliability as Al Rayyan's primary offensive threat across domestic and continental competitions. Tabata's tenure also highlighted his growing leadership within the squad, culminating in his appointment as club captain and multiple extensions that reflected his commitment. In March 2017, he signed a two-year extension keeping him at until 2019, later prolonged to cover the 2019–20 season, during which he continued to mentor younger players and drive team performances. By the end of his first stint in 2020, Tabata had amassed 173 appearances and 121 goals for the club, establishing himself as one of the most influential foreign imports in Qatari football history.

Loan to Al Sadd

In January 2014, Rodrigo Tabata transferred on loan from to Al Sadd, the reigning champions, for a one-year deal covering the latter part of the 2013–14 season and the full 2014–15 campaign. The move aimed to strengthen Al Sadd's midfield amid a challenging period, with Tabata integrating quickly into the squad as an attacking midfielder. During the loan, spanning February 2014 to June 2015, Tabata featured in 33 matches across all competitions, scoring 16 goals and providing key contributions to Al Sadd's offensive play. His goals included a brace in a 3–0 league victory over El Jaish on December 5, 2014, and the decisive strike in a 2–1 AFC Champions League group-stage win against Al Ahli on March 12, 2014, which advanced Al Sadd to the knockout rounds. Additionally, he netted against Sepahan in the AFC Champions League on February 26, 2014, and scored three league goals in October 2014 alone, earning him the Player of the Month award. Tabata's performances helped Al Sadd secure second place in the 2014–15 standings, though they fell short of retaining the title. His adaptation to the team's dynamics was evident in his immediate impact, forming effective partnerships in attack and boosting the club's competitiveness in both domestic and continental fixtures. The concluded in June 2015, with Tabata returning to as per the agreement.

Permanent move to Al Sadd

In July 2020, following the expiration of his contract with , Rodrigo Tabata joined Al Sadd on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal as a attacking expected to provide and creativity in the squad. This move marked a permanent commitment after a previous spell with the club in 2014–15, allowing him to reintegrate familiar tactics under manager Xavi Hernández. The transfer was announced amid high expectations for Tabata's experience to bolster Al Sadd's title defense in the . During the 2020–21 season, Tabata quickly established himself as a key contributor, appearing in 21 league matches and scoring 10 goals, including a stoppage-time winner in a 3–1 victory over that helped secure the title. His assists and precise playmaking were instrumental in Al Sadd's dominant campaign, where the team clinched the championship with a record points tally. Tabata's veteran presence also aided in mentoring younger players, contributing to the club's overall success that season, which included additional domestic honors under Xavi's guidance. In July 2022, he extended his contract for another year, committing through the 2022–23 season. Over the full tenure from 2020 to 2023, Tabata featured in 55 league appearances, netting 21 goals and providing several assists, with notable performances including 7 goals in the 2021–22 title-winning season and 4 goals in a reduced role during 2022–23 amid injury concerns. His efforts helped Al Sadd secure back-to-back titles in 2020–21 and 2021–22, underscoring his impact as a reliable scorer and leader in a star-studded lineup. By 2023, with his contract expiring, Tabata departed after contributing to the club's sustained competitiveness in domestic competitions.

Second stint at Al Rayyan

In September 2023, Rodrigo Tabata rejoined on a free transfer from Al Sadd, marking his return to the club where he had established himself as a legend during his first stint from 2011 to 2020. At 42 years old upon his return, Tabata transitioned into a veteran role, primarily serving as a mentor to younger players while featuring as an occasional starter or substitute in the and cup competitions. During the 2023–2025 period, Tabata made 29 appearances and scored 2 goals for Al Rayyan, reflecting his reduced physical demands amid a winding-down career phase. His contributions emphasized experience over endurance, with limited starting roles due to his advancing age of 43 to 44, which impacted his ability to maintain consistent match fitness in the high-intensity league. Key moments in the 2023–24 season included a dramatic equalizer in the 87th minute against Al Gharafa on October 28, 2023, making the score 3–3 in a Week 7 Expo Stars League encounter that ultimately ended in a 3–4 loss after a stoppage-time goal by Al Gharafa, showcasing his enduring composure under pressure. Later that season, on April 28, 2024, he provided a crucial assist to Gabriel Pereira in a 4–0 victory over Al Sadd in Week 22, contributing to Al Rayyan's push for a top-four finish. In the 2024–25 season, his involvement remained sporadic, with brief substitute appearances in cup ties underscoring his advisory presence on the bench rather than on-field dominance. As Tabata approached 45 in late 2025, challenges related to age led to further curtailed playing time, positioning him more as a rotational option for tactical depth. His second stint concluded with an emotional farewell from in June 2025, where the club honored his overall legacy and mentorship impact, bidding adieu to one of its most iconic figures.

Al Kharaitiyat

In August 2025, at the age of 44, Rodrigo Tabata signed a one-year contract with of the , marking a transition to a lower-tier club after his departure from on a free transfer. The deal, announced on August 25, 2025, and running until June 30, 2026, reflects Tabata's desire to continue his professional career in , where he has amassed extensive experience across multiple top-flight seasons. As of November 2025, during the ongoing 2025–26 season, Tabata has made limited but impactful appearances for Al Kharaitiyat, primarily in cup and league fixtures. In the , he has featured in two matches, scoring one goal over 180 minutes played, while in the Qatari Stars Cup, he has appeared three times, netting two goals in 255 minutes and receiving one yellow card. These contributions underscore his role as a attacking providing leadership and scoring prowess to the second-division side. Tabata's current market value stands at €50,000, positioning him as one of the oldest active professional footballers globally at 44 years old. His move to Al Kharaitiyat highlights a late-career phase focused on sustained play in a familiar league environment, potentially including mentorship for younger teammates amid the club's ambitions in the second tier.

International career

Naturalization and debut

Rodrigo Tabata, originally from , became eligible to represent after acquiring Qatari citizenship through , following several years of residency in the country since joining in 2011. Under and AFC regulations, foreign players can be naturalized and play for a national team after five continuous years of residence in the country, a criterion Tabata satisfied by 2016. In August 2015, Tabata received his initial call-up to the national team for a in , marking the start of his international career. His unofficial debut came during a friendly match against Austrian club on August 17, 2015, where he played as drew 2–2. Tabata's official international debut occurred on March 24, 2016, in a qualifying match against , which won 2–0; he substituted in during the second half. His first international goal followed in a friendly against on August 8, 2016, where he scored the opener from a free-kick in the 38th minute, helping secure a 2–1 victory in .

International appearances

Rodrigo Tabata represented the national team from 2015 to 2017, earning a total of 18 caps and scoring 2 goals during this period. His appearances primarily came in qualifiers and international friendlies, where he contributed as an attacking , often providing creativity in midfield despite a limited starting role due to strong competition from other players in the squad. Tabata's goals were both scored in friendlies during 2016: the first against on 8 August, helping Qatar secure a 2-1 victory, and the second against on 25 August in a 3-0 win. He did not score in any qualifying matches, though he featured in several, including games against , , , and . Overall, his international tenure included no participation in major tournaments such as the , as Qatar did not advance to the knockout stages in relevant cycles during his active years, and he was not selected for subsequent events. Tabata's last international match was a World Cup qualifier against South Korea on 13 June 2017, where he played 90 minutes in a 3-2 victory. At age 36, he effectively retired from international duty thereafter, focusing instead on his club career in Qatar.

Career statistics

Club

Rodrigo Tabata's club career statistics encompass appearances, goals, and assists across all competitions (including domestic leagues, cups, and continental tournaments) from his professional debut in 1999 to the ongoing 2025–26 season. Data is compiled from reliable tracking sources, reflecting totals as of November 16, 2025.
ClubYearsAppearancesGoalsAssists
Treze FC1999–2000201
2001–2005, 2006–2007134216
EC2007–200887212
2008–201034149
2010–201148216
2011–2020, 2023–202525112346
Al-Sadd SC2014–2015 (loan), 2020–20231285014
Al-Kharaitiyat SC2025–present320
Career Total1999–202568723394
These figures include breakdowns across competitions, with the majority from league play (e.g., approximately 70% of appearances in domestic leagues like the Brazilian Série A, Turkish , and ), supplemented by cup and AFC Champions League matches where applicable.

International

Rodrigo Tabata earned 19 caps for the Qatar national team between 2016 and 2017, during which he scored 2 goals, all in friendly matches. His appearances were primarily in qualifiers and international friendlies, with his last match occurring on June 13, 2017. No further caps have been recorded as of November 16, 2025. The following table summarizes his appearances and goals by calendar year and competition type:
YearCompetition TypeAppearancesGoals
2016World Cup Qualifiers100
2016Friendlies82
2016Total182
2017World Cup Qualifiers10
2017Friendlies00
2017Total10
OverallTotal192

Honours

Santos

Rodrigo Tabata won two consecutive titles with Santos, in 2006 and 2007.

Al Rayyan

During his first major stint at from 2011 to 2020 (excluding 2014–15 loan to Al Sadd), Tabata contributed to several domestic trophies, including the 2015–16 title. The team also secured the Emir of Qatar Cup in 2013. Additionally, Al Rayyan won the Qatar Crown Prince Cup in 2012.

Al Sadd

Tabata joined Al Sadd in late 2019 and, in the 2019–20 season, helped the club win the title. He then achieved a league and cup double in his full debut season, winning the 2020–21 and the 2020 Amir Cup. The following year, Al Sadd retained the title in 2021–22, while also claiming the 2021 .

Individual awards

Rodrigo Tabata earned the Qatar Stars League Player of the Year award in the 2011–12 season, recognizing his standout performances with Al Rayyan, where he contributed 17 goals and 9 assists. In the 2015–16 season, he won the same accolade for the second time while captaining Al Rayyan to the league title, and shared the top scorer honor with 21 goals alongside Al Ahli's Abdulaziz Al Ansari. According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), Tabata ranked as the fourth-oldest player worldwide to appear in a top-tier national league match in 2024, achieving this at age 44 while playing for . Tabata has not received any individual awards at the international level.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.