Born on 26 December 1992 in Goiás, Brazil, Rodrigo Alves Soares started playing football since he was a… toddler, just like all kids in his home country.

He was introduced to professional football at the age of 20, at União São João. He joined EC Santo André for a while, before signing for Grêmio Esportivo Anápolis. With 14 matches and 1 goal to show for in 2014-15, he earned his ticket to European football.

He moved to FC Porto and played for their B team for two seasons. In 2017, he was loaned to GD Chaves for a semester, recording his first appearances in Liga NOS. In the following season, Rodrigo was on the lookout for a top-tier team that would grant him opportunities to show his worth. CD Aves came up with the offer.

In his first season at CD Aves, Rodrigo conjured up 1 goal and 2 assists in 33 encounters and contributed to his club’s first ever silverware, the Portuguese Cup. The Brazilian had made his first step, but would definitely stand out in 2018-19.

He played in 41 matches, scored 4 goals, delivered 9 assists, got the award for Liga NOS best full-back of the season and earned numerous awards on European level as well. His excellent season attracted interest and… suitors started gathering around. FC Porto and Sporting CP both moved to signing him, but PAOK were swift and secured the Brazilian’s signature, bringing him to Thessaloniki.