Valdo

Born in Siderópolis, Santa Catarina, Valdo began playing football with Figueirense Futebol Clube, making his professional debuts with Grêmio Football Porto-Alegrense, with which he won four consecutive Rio Grande do Sul Leagues. In the summer of 1988 he signed with S.L. Benfica of Portugal alongside compatriot Ricardo Gomes, a central defender. Both were important elements in their debut season as the team won the Primeira Liga championship, a feat which was again accomplished in 1991, with the midfielder netting five goals in 26 matches. Both Valdo and Gomes left for Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in the 1991 summer, and both would return four years later to the Lisbon side, having won a total of four titles, including the 1993–94 edition of the Ligue 1. In his second Benfica spell, he played in 30 league matches in each of his two seasons, winning the Taça de Portugal in 1996. Aged 32, Valdo joined J1 League club Nagoya Grampus Eight, and returned to his country after two slow years. He would continue to play until the age of 40, representing six teams in quick succession (he ended his career after having helped Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas achieve its return to the Série A). Valdo began working as a manager in 2009, in Brazilian amateur football. Five years later, he rejoined his former Benfica boss Artur Jorge at MC Alger from Algeria.

Valdo earned 45 caps for the Brazil national team, during six years. Before having made his first appearance he was called to the 1986 FIFA World Cup squad, but did not play one single second. In the 1990 edition in Italy, Valdo was already a starter, and took part in the country's four matches in the tournament, including the round-of-16 1–0 loss against Argentina.

Valdo was a technically skilled midfielder, noted for his vision, passing and physical condition. Originally used as a left winger during his early career, he was later moved into a central playmaking role at Grêmio under Rubens Minelli.

Real Madrid / Osasuna

In 2001, Real Madrid signed him for its reserve teams. He played in 2001–02 with Real Madrid Castilla and, also during that season, received first-team opportunities in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, with the Merengues eventually winning the latter competition. In January 2003, Valdo moved to the league club CA Osasuna, first on loan, where he developed as a top division player, scoring five goals in 35 games in his first full season. On 11 April 2004, he scored in a 3–0 away win against his former club. In the 2005–06 season, although he featured much less mainly due to a groin ailment, Valdo scored in a 2–1 home victory over FC Barcelona on 12 March 2006, as Osasuna qualified for the first time for the Champions League qualifying rounds. After the demotion to the UEFA Cup, he helped the team reach the last-four against Sevilla FC, scoring twice in ten matches.

Espanyol

RCD Espanyol signed Valdo at the end of 2006–07 to a four-year deal. He played his first game for the Barcelona-based side against CF Peralada during the pre-season. On 14 July 2009, after having appeared sparingly, Valdo moved to Málaga CF in a season-long loan. After being dropped from the squad for several months due to his bad performances, he was brought back on 27 February 2010; he scored his first goal for the club against Barcelona on the same day, but Málaga lost 1–2 away at Camp Nou.

Levante

On 13 August 2010, Valdo left…

Valdo played for the Spanish under-21s in the early 2000s. In late August 2011, aged 30, he was called up by the Cape Verde national team for a match against Mali on 3 September, for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualificatiers, and made his debut in the 0–3 away loss.

Club

As of 8 October 2015

International goals

Upon retiring from football, Valdo settled in Portugal with his Portuguese wife. The couple had one daughter, Tatiele, who died in a car accident at only 13.

Osasuna

Copa del Rey runner-up: 2004–05