[1] Dubbed as Donizete Pantera, a nickname he received in Mexico, where he won the Balon de Oro for his performances in the 1993–94 Mexican Primera División.

[4] In 1990, Donizete Pantera moved to Tecos UAG, spending five seasons there, being an important part in the conquest of the first and only league title for the Mexican side.

[7][8] He partnered with João Pinto in the six month he spent at Estádio da Luz, scoring 9 goals in 22 appearances, leaving in late January 1997 for Corinthians.

In the late part of 1997, Donizete Pantera moved to Vasco da Gama, being loaned out to Cruzeiro to play a single game, the 1997 Intercontinental Cup, lost to Borussia Dortmund by 2–0.

Eliminating Cruzeiro, Grêmio and River Plate in the knock-out stages, Donizete Pantera started and scored in both legs of the 1998 Copa Libertadores Finals, as Vasco defeated Barcelona by 4–1 on aggregate.

In post-football, he works at a foundation created to promote young talents, Fundação Pantera Negra, plus spent time studying to become a football manager.

He scored a second goal on 28 August 1996, against Russia, in a 1–1 draw, making his final appearance for his national team on 15 February 1998, against Jamaica at the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup.