Silvinho debuted his professional football career in
América in 1978 in
Campeonato Paulista Série B1. He made his debut in Brazilian league play with América on 26 March 1978, in a 3–0 win against
Flamengo. In the years 1979–1985 he was a player with
SC Internacional. With Internacional, he won the Brazilian Premier League in 1979 and the
Rio Grande do Sul –
Campeonato Gaúcho state championship four times in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984. With
Internacional he debuted in the Brazilian football league system on 21 July 1985 in a win against
Bangu AC, 1–2. In the 1st league from 1978 to 1985, he played in 91 matches, scoring 16 goals. In 1986 he started play in
Portugal for the next ten years with:
Sportingu,
Vitórii Guimarães,
Tirsense,
CD Nacional,
FC Paços de Ferreira and
FC Maia. He ended his career in Brazil in
Novo Hamburgo in 1997. == International career ==