He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 26 matches and nine goals over three seasons for Marítimo, Benfica and Vitória de Setúbal, spending the vast majority of his career abroad.
He competed in Spain, England, Turkey, Greece and Thailand, winning the UEFA Cup with Sevilla in 2006 and being Süper Lig top scorer with Kayserispor in 2009–10.
[3] After a spell at G.D. Chaves, Makukula concluded his development at Vitória de Guimarães, where he and César Peixoto were also loaned to nearby Brito SC.
Through agent Jorge Mendes and his Gestifute company,[3] he began his professional career in Spain with UD Salamanca and CD Leganés, scoring 20 goals for the former in the 2001–02 season – spent in the Segunda División – second-best in the competition.
[5] He was subsequently loaned to Real Valladolid, netting eight times but suffering relegation from La Liga;[4] he opened his account in the Spanish top flight with two goals on 27 September 2003 at RC Celta de Vigo, who recovered to win 3–2.
[9] Due to his ongoing injury, Makukula did not debut for the Nervión club until 8 January 2005, when he came on as a 56th-minute substitute for Carlitos in a goalless home draw with Getafe CF, in which he was booked.
[14] In 2005–06, with Juande Ramos having replaced Joaquín Caparrós as manager, Makukula's injuries continued and he had to deal with the signings of fellow forwards Luís Fabiano, Javier Saviola and Frédéric Kanouté.
[15] He played one game all season, 13 minutes and a yellow card in extra time in the UEFA Cup semi-final second leg against FC Schalke 04 on 27 April 2006, after Antonio Puerta had scored the only goal for the eventual champions.
[21] On 2 September, also at the Estádio do Marítimo, he scored, was booked for his celebration and sent off for violent conduct towards Paulo Sérgio all in the first seven minutes of a 2–0 victory against Académica de Coimbra.
[32] Disappointed by the facilities in Bangkok, he severed his ties two months later and returned to his birth country, becoming sporting director and ambassador of their national team.
[35] In October 2007, after solid performances with Marítimo, he was called up to the Portugal squad for a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Kazakhstan on the 17th, after Nuno Gomes suffered an injury: in the 84th minute of the game, he scored the first goal in an eventual 2–1 away win.