Rúben Rafael de Melo Silva Pinto is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
Club career
Benfica
Born in Odivelas, Lisbon metropolitan area, Pinto joined S.L. Benfica's youth system in 2004, aged 12. He was promoted to the first team for the 2011–12 season, being limited to a sole bench presence in that first year; in June 2011 he signed his first professional contract, running until 2015 with a €30 million clause. Pinto made his professional debut in the 2012–13 campaign, competing with the reserves in the Segunda Liga. He made his first appearance in the competition on 28 April 2013, starting and playing 73 minutes in the 1–1 home draw to F.C. Arouca. Pinto scored his first goal as a professional on 26 August 2013, in a 3–0 home win over Portimonense SC. On 25 January of the following year, he was again an unused substitute for the main squad, in a game against Gil Vicente F.C. for the group stage of the Taça da Liga. On 7 January 2015, F.C. Paços de Ferreira signed Pinto on a loan deal until the end of the season. He scored his first goal in the Primeira Liga on 4 May, playing the full 90 minutes and helping to a 2–2 home draw against S.C. Braga.
Belenenses
On 18 June 2015, Pinto joined C.F. Os Belenenses on a four-year contract. He made his league debut on 15 August, scoring in the 3–3 home draw to Rio Ave FC. Pinto played ten matches in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League, helping his team to the group phase.
In the beginning of August 2016, Pinto joined PFC CSKA Sofiaon loan with an option to make the move permanent afterwards. On 15 June 2017 the Bulgarian club activated the clause, and he agreed to a three-year deal three days later. In August 2019, Pinto saw himself removed from the first team by manager Ljupko Petrović, reportedly for disciplinary reasons.
International career
Pinto earned 65 caps for Portugal, all youth categories comprised. On 2 June 2013 he made his debut with the under-21s, coming on midway through the second half of the 2–0 friendly win over Croatia.
