Kanú

Born in Boa Esperança, Minas Gerais, Kanú started playing professionally with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, but only appeared in seven Série A games over the course of three seasons. In 2005, he was loaned to Série C club Ipatinga Esporte Clube. Kanú moved to Portugal for 2005–06, joining C.S. Marítimo in the Primeira Liga. He made his debut in the competition on 18 September 2005, starting and playing 64 minutes in a 2–2 home draw against F.C. Penafiel. Precisely during that campaign, he scored a career-best eight goals (from 25 games) to help his team finish in tenth position. On 22 July 2010, Kanú contributed with one goal to a 3–2 away win over Sporting Fingal F.C. for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League (6–4 on aggregate). He left the island of Madeira in late January of the following year, taking his game to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, this being interspersed with a brief spell back in his country with amateurs Nacional Esporte Clube (MG).