He debuted for the Brazil national team on 6 December 1925 in a 5–2 win over Paraguay in the South American Championship in Buenos Aires. He played three more matches for Brazil in this tournament, which finished second behind the hosts. In the first edition of the World Cup, 1930 in Uruguay was not selected for the first match, which Brazil lost 1–2 to Yugoslavia. In the second match against Bolivia, which Brazil won 4–0, he scored two goals and he became the second player to score for Brazil in a World Cup, after Preguinho from Rio's Fluminense FC. However, Brazil did not progress to the next round of the tournament.