A
Flamengo youth graduate,
Rio de Janeiro-born Adalberto was promoted to the first team in 1983, but spent his first year sidelined due to a leg break. He made his first team debut in a 0–0 draw against
Guarani in the year's
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. An immediate backup of
Júnior, Adalberto scored his first goal in March 1984, netting the opener in a 3–0 home win against
Brasil de Pelotas. When Júnior was sold to
Torino, he became the first-choice and appeared regularly until the end of the year. Adalberto started the 1985 campaign as an undisputed starter, scoring a brace in a 6–1 routing of rivals
Botafogo. He subsequently struggled severely with injuries, which prompted to end his career at the age of just 24. ==International career==