Ceará Sporting Club
Mota began his career with Ceará Sporting Club in 1998, then went to play for La Liga side RCD Mallorca B from 1999 to 2000. However, in 2000, Mota went back to Brazil and played for Cruzeiro Esporte Clube scoring 32 goals in the league. In 2004, he went to the Far East where he played for South Korean professional league, K-League side Chunnam Dragons, finishing as the league's top scorer with 14 goals.