 While playing on three different continents, Cléo scored at least once in the major club international competitions, in the Copa Libertadores for Atlético Paranaense, in the UEFA Champions League for Partizan, and in the AFC Champions League for two clubs, Guangzhou Evergrande and Kashiwa Reysol.Born in Guarapuava, Cléo started out with local club Batel, before joining Comercial-PR.He was later spotted by Olivais e Moscavide, which brought him to Portugal in the summer of 2004.