Born in Araxá, Minas Gerais, Formiga joined Santos' youth setup in May 1950, but made his first team debut in the month after being promoted to the main squad by manager Artigas.
[1] Formiga returned to Santos in 1959, taking part of the Os Santásticos squad that won two Copa Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cups.
[1] Formiga played 18 matches for the Brazil national football team, making his full international debut on 20 September 1955 in a 2–1 win against Chile at the Pacaembu Stadium.
[3] He was subsequently in charge of Corinthians,[4] Cruzeiro, Portuguesa, Santo André, Catanduvense, Goiás and América Mineiro in his home country, aside from a period at Mexico's Universidad Guadalajara in 1990 and Japan's Oita Trinita in 1998.
In 2001, after being in charge of Palestra de São Bernardo in the previous campaign, Formiga returned to Peixe as a youth football coordinator.