 Luizão was brought up from the Cruzeiro youth squad and made his professional debut for them against Grêmio in a 3–1 home win in the Campeonato Brasileiro on April 23, 2006.He scored his first professional goal for Cruzeiro against Figueirense in a 2–0 away win in the Campeonato Brasileiro on April 30, 2006.In July 2007, Luizão was transferred to FC Locarno.