Nelumbo

Rafael Arlex Castillo (born June 6, 1980) is a Colombian footballer who plays as a midfielder. He previously played for the former San Antonio Scorpions of the NASL and the Colombia national football team between 2001 and 2003. He is known for his tenacious style of play despite his diminutive stature.

His past clubs include Real Cartagena (Colombia), Independiente Medellín (Colombia), Al-Ahly (Egypt) and Deportivo Pereira (Colombia).

Castillo was a mid-season acquisition for the Scorpions. He was brought in between the Spring and Fall 2014 North American Soccer League seasons and immediately started. He played attacking midfield for the Scorpions and helped lead the team to the 2014 NASL Championship. In only half a season, he led the team in goals scored for the entire year.

In the Soccer Bowl 2014, Castillo executed a stunning Bicycle kick to open the scoring. The San Antonio Scorpions would go on to win the game 2-1. Castillo's effort in the final also included an assist to Billy Forbes on a sublime through-ball that split the defense.^[1][2]

He remained with San Antonio until the club ceased operations in December 2015.

Castillo signed with 2016 USL expansion club, San Antonio FC on February 4, 2016.

Independiente Medellín

• Categoría Primera A: 2004-I, 2009-II
• MVP Soccer Bowl: 2014

• Rafael Castillo at BDFA (in Spanish)
• GolGolGol(Colombian soccer official website)(in Spanish) at the Wayback Machine (archived 18 March 2010)
• Tolima, sigue sumando refuerzos(in Spanish) at the Wayback Machine (archived 2 January 2011)
• Rafael Castillo in Independiente Medellín Official Website (in Spanish)^{[permanent dead link]}
• Career Stats (in Spanish) at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 April 2012)
• Rafael Castillo at National-Football-Teams.com