Rafael Mahir Aghayev (Azerbaijani: Rafael Ağayev; born March 4, 1985, in Sumgait, Azerbaijan is an Azerbaijani karateka. He won the silver medal in the men's kumite 75 kg division at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He is a five-time world champion, and eleven-time European champion in his discipline. Aghayev is currently signed by Karate Combat and is the reigning welterweight champion in the promotion with a record of 5-0.

The 2018 European Karate Championships were the 53rd edition of the European Karate Championships, and were held in Novi Sad, Serbia from 10 to 13 May 2018.