Background
Born in Porto Alegre, Tinga started playing professionally with local Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, receiving his nickname from the name of the Restinga quarter where he grew up.
Born in Porto Alegre, Tinga started playing professionally with local Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, receiving his nickname from the name of the Restinga quarter where he grew up.
After making a name for himself at Grêmio, he went on to play professionally in, other than his country, Japan, Portugal and Germany, representing Borussia Dortmund in the latter nation. In 1999 he was loaned to Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, moving to J. League Division 2"s Kawasaki Frontale the following year in the same predicament. In January 2004, following a wages dispute, Tinga left Grêmio and signed with Sporting Clube de Portugal, for the rest of that season and two more.
Following these displays, he signed a three-year contract with Borussia Dortmund in Germany for R$8 million.
On 1 April 2010, after not having his contract with Borussia renewed, 31-year-old Tinga left the club He re-joined former club Internacional the following month and, on 17 May 2012, moved to Cruzeiro Esporte Clube.
On 30 April 2015 Tinga announced his retirement, after his contract with Cruzeiro ended. Tinga made his debut with Brazil in 2001.
After a five-year absence he was recalled to the national team by newly appointed manager Dunga, for a friendly against Switzerland, gaining his third cap on 15 November 2006.
He subsequently spoke with sadness of the events, that took place in a "neighbouring country" and "still occurred in 2014".