Bordon was born in Ribeirão Preto. He played for Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04 between 2004 and July 2019. He joined the club for a €2.6 million transfer fee from VfB Stuttgart. At Schalke 04, he formed a formidable central defence alongside Mladen Krstajić, boasting a formidable aerial ability and a capacity for leadership that earned him the role as team captain from the 2006–07 season until the summer of 2010. Although not a regular for the Brazil national team, he was part of the team that won the 2004 Copa América.