Although he had shown great potential as a youngster, after spells with several European clubs, such as Udinese, Sporting CP, and Maccabi Haifa, he found himself back in Brazil playing in the second division. At the international level, he played 18 times for the Brazil national team and scored two goals (this figure includes under-23 games such as the Olympics). On 27 July 2007, he joined J1 League side Yokohama FC on loan, and following Yokohama's relegation from the J1 League, on 28 December of the same year, he moved to Shimizu S-Pulse.