From 1992 until 2005, Lafata played for Czech team
SK České Budějovice, with a brief spell at
FC Vysočina Jihlava in 2002. The striker then moved to Greek club
Skoda Xanthi in July 2005, but returned to the Czech Liga in January 2006. After one year at Jablonec, Lafata was transferred to
FK Austria Vienna in January 2007 from where he came back to Jablonec in the spring of 2008. For Austria, he scored a goal in a domestic cup final. In the
2010–11 season, Lafata was top scorer of the
Czech First League with 19 goals. He continued his good run of form into the
2011–12 season, scoring eleven goals in the first seven games, at the end of the autumn half, he scored eighteen goals in sixteen appearances. In April 2012, Lafata broke the Czech First League season scoring record, notching his 23rd goal of the season. He finished season with 25 goals, being top scorer and setting a new record. In the
2012–13 season, Lafata scored 13 goals in the first 16 games, being top scorer of the league before signing for
AC Sparta Prague in the winter break. In February 2013, he scored a goal in the Europa League round of 32, in a 2–1 aggregate loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. In March 2014 Lafata scored his 134th goal in the Czech First League, surpassing
Horst Siegl as its top all-time scorer. At the start of the 2014–15 season, Lafata scored five goals in a 7–0 Champions League qualifying round win over
Levadia Tallinn in the home leg in Prague. Continuing his fine form in the Champions League qualifying round, Lafata scored a
hat-trick in a 4–2 comeback victory over
Malmö FF at home in Prague. In autumn 2015, Lafata was denied at hat-trick (by the Croatian referee) in Europa League match in Greece against Asteras Tripolis. He scored goal in both away and home match against Schalke 04, as Sparta progressed to the knockout stages. In May 2016, Lafata became the first player to score five goals in a Czech First League match, netting all of the goals in a 5–0 win against
Jihlava. On 30 July 2017, he scored his 200th league goal in a 1–1 draw against city rival
Bohemians 1905. ==International career==