[3] He made his international debut for Italy in March 2015, and scored two goals in their successful qualification campaign for UEFA Euro 2016, also being selected for the final tournament.

He was named in tribute to Éder Aleixo de Assis, striker of the Brazil national team during the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

He made his first team – and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A – debut on 19 December 2004, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–3 home draw against Coritiba, with his side being already relegated.

Éder was definitely promoted to the first team ahead of the 2005 season, and scored his first goal on 30 January of that year, but in a 3–2 Campeonato Catarinense home loss against Joinville.

Éder signed with Frosinone in a co-ownership deal for a fee of €600,000[5] in June 2008 following a loan spell during the second half of the 2007–08 Serie B season.

[11][12] Éder scored just six goals for the club and on 13 July 2011 was transferred to Cesena from Empoli in a temporary deal for €2.2 million (which later compensate by the loan fee from Sampdoria).

Éder began to be considered for the Italy national team by head coach Antonio Conte due to his good form in the 2014–15 season with Sampdoria.

Conte's response to the use of overseas-born players was: "If Mauro Camoranesi [who was born in Argentina] was allowed to help Italy win the 2006 FIFA World Cup, then why can't Éder and Franco Vázquez lead the Azzurri to glory in next year's European Championship?

"[42] On 28 March 2015, Éder made his debut for Italy, coming on as a 58th-minute substitute for Simone Zaza in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Bulgaria and scoring the equaliser in a 2–2 draw in the 84th minute.

[46] On 17 June, he scored the only goal against Sweden in the 88th minute during the second group game, which qualified Italy to the Round of 16;[47] he was named Man of the Match by UEFA.

[48] Éder is a quick, strong, and tenacious forward with an accurate shot, who usually plays in a central role as a main striker, due to his pace, positional sense, attacking movement, tactical intelligence, and eye for goal, which make him particularly effective during counter-attacks.

[51][55][56][57] In addition to his offensive and creative abilities, Éder has also stood out for his stamina and defensive work-rate, which make him extremely useful when his team are not in possession.