Ceará

Career

Ceará began his football career in the city of Crato in the state where Ceará was born. Ceará began his football career when he joined Gama youth academy and earned a nickname Ceará. In 1999, he joined Brazilian side Santos where he spent one year and then joined various Brazilian clubs in the lower division like Associação Atlética Portuguesa and São José. In 2001, Ceará joined Santa Cruz where the club became 25th place in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, which resulted relegation to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. At Santa Cruz, he made 19 league appearances. The following year, he joined Botafogo where he played against Sport Club do Recife in the Brazil Cup which resulted 1–1 draw. In the second leg, Sport Club do Recife won 7–2 to go through to the next round.

Ceará career changed when he joined Coritiba where he stayws for two years. In 2003, Ceará and his teammate led the Coritiba win the Campeonato Paranaense and finished fifth in the league.

São Caetano

In 2004, Ceará joined Associação Desportiva São Caetano. At São Caetano, Ceará broke into the first team and the club was able to achieve success when they won Campeonato Paulista. In the same season, Ceará was the skilled defensive player who has been increasingly used at the time as well as left-right-back, making 26 appearances and scoring 1. The club was able to win the moment a major trophy in club history, Campeonato Paulista. This was the peak of the team, thereafter the results are in decline, especially after the deprivation of São Caetano points due to the death of Serginho who collapsed in the field in a match against São Paulo on 27 October 2004.

Internacional

In 2005, Ceará moved again but this joined Sport Club Internacional where he had a successful season. On 25 June 2005, Ceará made his debut for the club against São Paulo, which the club later was a success winning the FIFA Club World Championship. Came up to the end of the season, Ceará made 13 appearances and the club won the Campeonato Gaúcho in the same year. In the league, Internacional placed in second behind first place Corinthians, just three points adrift.

In 2006, Ceará wore number shirt 14 at Internacional and the club was more successful for the club when they won their first title in Copa Libertadores final beating São Paulo 4–3 on aggregate where he played in both legs, playing in the right back position. In the first leg, Ceará was replaced by Wellington Monteiro in the 56th minute but played in the decisive second leg of the full playing time. With winning the Copa Libertadores, the club participate in the FIFA Club World Cup at Japan. At the FIFA Club World Cup, the club started in the semi-final against Egyptian side Al Ahly where they won 2–1 to progress to the final. In the final, Ceará made a name for himself at Sport Club Internacional, where he was part of the side that famously beat F.C. Barcelona to win the 2006 FIFA Club World Championship where he played in the right back position. Ceará also acted as a regular force also in the defensive line from Internacional. He was made up of 31 league matches and scored three goals. Once again in the league, the club placed in second behind São Paulo with nine points adrift.

In 2007, the club was not able to achieve winning a cup but did won the Recopa Sudamericana by beating Mexican side Pachuca 5–2 on aggregate where he played in both legs, playing in the right back position. Ceará was still a regular place as he made ten league games (+ 1 goal) before he took shortly after a shift to Europe. In total at Internacional, Ceará made 55 appearances and scoring 4 where he frequently struck by his defense actions and by his appearance in the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup and international organizations to gain attention. Ceará signed a new deal with Internacional until 2011.

Paris Saint-Germain

His performances in the FIFA Club World Cup attracted the attention of French side Paris Saint-Germain, who brought him to the French capital in the summer of 2007, for R$6,752,750 and keeping him until 2010. Ceará made his debut for the club, coming on as substitute after 84 minutes for Amara Diané in a match against AS Monaco which PSG won 2–1 on 16 September 2007. The next game on 6 October 2007, Ceará scored his goal for the club in a 3–1 loss against Stade Rennais. On 15 March 2008, Ceará scored an own goal in a 1–1 against Valenciennes which PSG were losing until Pauleta equalizer give both clubs a draw. In his first season, Ceara struggled to find his best form, and made a few high-profile mistakes that contributed to a poor campaign for his club. In the Coupe de la Ligue Final, Ceará played in the right back as PSG won the Coupe de la Ligue for third time against Lens 2–1 with a winning goal from substitute Bernard Mendy on stoppage time.

As from 2008 to 2009, the Brazilian's displays improved and he's since considered as one of the most reliable performers in the squad, where he

made almost every league game remained scoreless, but this year, but made with four assists, twice as many as they did in previous season and also support and agreement field with Ludovic Giulyband Stéphane Sessègnon. He also involved in UEFA Cup where he provided 3 assist in 9 UEFA Cup before losing to Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv 3–0. What made it worse when PSG became sixth place which resulted missing out on Europa League qualification or play-off-grid positions and didn't win either Coupe de France (eliminated in Round of 16) and Coupe de la Ligue (eliminated in semi-final), without winning a single title.

The following season in 2009/10, the club appointed a new manager Antoine Kombouaré after Paul Le Guen left due to expiry of his contract. Prior the season started, Ceará signed a new contract at PSG until 2012 as his contract was to expire next summer. Ceará find himself in spite of the arrival of competitor Christophe Jallet in the summer of 2009 and face competition with Jallet whether who take the right back position. At the start of the season, Ceará played a few games due to injury. Later on the season, Ceará made more appearance in the season. By the end of the season, Ceará made 29 appearances and 1 assist when he set up a goal for Jérémy Clément to score the only goal in a match against Auxerre on 28 November 2009. The team became thirteen place which the club briefly represented in the relegation battle. Despite bad performance in the league, Ceará was on the bench for the final until he come on for Mevlüt Erdinç on 105 minutes as PSG won the Coupe de France for the eighth time in a 1–0 against AS Monaco, thanks to Guillaume Hoarau who scored a winning goal in extra time. Despite the Coupe de France, the club also participate in Emirates Cup (which they became second) and Trophée des Champions where they lose to Le Classique rival Olympique de Marseille on penalties following Ludovic Giuly missed and Édouard Cissé struck the winning penalty to win the cup.

Cruzeiro

After five years in France, Ceará left Brazil by joining Cruzeiro, which will keep him until 2013.

Personal

Ceará is married to Fernanda Ceará and has three children, two daughters and a son. Ceará speaks fluently Portuguese and French. Like many other Brazilian men's footballers, Ceará is a devout evangelical Christian, and is now a pastor. Ceará became involved with religion at the age of 18 in August 1998. "I've been touched by the unconditional love of Jesus, I decided to give my life to the Lord." In 2006, Ceará founded a church in Porto Alegre.

In a documentary called 'Jesus Football Club' aired on Canal+, Ceará quoted: "'I am against divorce and abortion. I'm not really for homosexuality. It takes away a little bit of God's plan.

Honours

Coritiba

Campeonato Paranaense: 2003

São Caetano

Campeonato Paulista: 2004

Internacional

Copa Libertadores: 2006

FIFA Club World Championship: 2006

Recopa Sudamericana: 2007

Paris Saint-Germain

Coupe de la Ligue: 2007–08

Coupe de France: 2009–10

Cruzeiro

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2013, 2014

Campeonato Mineiro: 2014