But they couldn't predict Adão would suffer a serious injury that would leave him off of the pitch for several months.

Santos let Adão go and, at Flamengo, he underwent intensive physical therapy.

In Brazil, Adão played for Botafogo, Vasco, Fluminense, Portuguesa-SP, Corinthians, Bangu, EC Bahia, Cruzeiro, Portuguesa-RJ, Campo Grande-RJ, Ceará SC, Santa Cruz, Volta Redonda FC, Rio Branco-RJ and Desportiva-ES.

His international career included FK Austria Wien, Al Ain FC, Benfica and Sport Boys.

Adão further represented Brazil in the 1989 edition of the World Cup of Masters, scoring a hat trick in the final against Uruguay.