Born in Jundiaí in the state of São Paulo, Nenê began his career by scoring 26 goals in just 32 league games for local club Paulista. His form there saw him attract the attention of Brazil's biggest clubs, earning moves first to Palmeiras and then Pele's old side Santos. At the age of 22, Nenê began a ten-year stay in Europe in 2003, when he joined Spanish outfit Mallorca for a season.

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That was followed by two years with Alaves, who he helped to win promotion to La Liga in 2005. Nenê spent the 2006/07 season with Celta de Vigo, scoring eight times, including strikes against Real Madrid and Barcelona, leading to a move to French club Monaco. There, he won Player of the Year honours in 2008 before spending a season back in Spain on loan at Espanyol. After scoring 14 goals for Monaco in 2009/10, Nenê moved to the French capital, where he excelled in the colours of PSG. He netted another 14 times in 2010/11 before topping the French Ligue 1 scoring charts with 21 goals the following season, while also registering eleven assists with his outstanding delivery and set plays. While Nenê's form in a PSG shirt saw him coveted by many of Europe's top clubs, he opted to try a new challenge in the Middle East by signing for Al-Gharafa in the Qatar Stars League in January 2013. There, he continued his prolific ways with 53 appearances and 22 goals.

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The Brazilian forward joined the Hammers on 18 February 2015 until the end of season, where he is relishing his first crack at the English Barclays Premier League. However, the South American made just 8 substitute appearances for the Hammers before moving back to his homeland with the Rio de Janerio side Vasco da Gama.

Later played for Sao Paulo, Fluminense, before returning to Vasco.