Career
Paulo André Cren Benini began his football career playing for the São Paulo youth team, however he was unable to impress the coaching staff and was dismissed by the club He would go to the youth teams of Centro Sportivo Alagoano, Águas de Lindóia as well as having a trial with Scottish club Rangers Football Club in 2002, under manager Alex McLeish before he joined Série A club Guarani who promoted him to their senior side. While Paulo André would go on to establish himself within the club he was unfortunately part of the squad that was relegated at the end of the 2004 league campaign.
Despite this disappointment Paulo André had impressed Atlético Paranaense who gave him another chance at the top tier when they signed him before the start of the 2005 league campaign.
After having a personally successful debut season he would spark foreign interests and French Ligue 1 club Le Mans signed Paulo André in June 2006 on a four and half years deal. This would see Paulo André make his league debut for Le Mans on August 19, 2006 against Valenciennes Football Club in a 3-2 victory, however after only three further games Paulo André was struck with a patellar tendon injury in his right knee.
The injury would require three surgeries and Paulo André missing the whole of the 2007-2008 Ligue 1 campaign. On his return within the 2008-2009 Ligue 1 campaign he was able to play in 31 games throughout the season until on August 4, 2009 Brazilian club Sport Club Paulista signed Paulo André from Le Mans on a single season loan.
This would then be followed by the club winning the 2012 Copa Libertadores and 2012 Fédération internationale de football association Club World Cup.
On 12 February 2014, officially confirmed Paulo André"s departure to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. On 10 February 2015, after a year playing in China, Paulo André joined Cruzeiro.