The young Gérson combined technique and an extremely potent left foot shot with intelligence and an uncanny ability to control the game from the midfield.

One of his greatest assets was his ability to switch defence into attack with one long, laser-like pass from deep inside his own half.

In 1963 he chose not to sign another contract with Flamengo after being assigned the impossible task of man-marking Garrincha in the 1962 Rio de Janeiro Championship final, which Botafogo won 3–0.

He is regarded as the best passer and midfielder in that edition of that World Cup, in that Brazilian squad, and the second best player in the 4–1 victory against Italy in the final, after Pelé himself.

[11][12] Outside the soccer pitch, Gérson's name became nationally infamous after he starred in a Vila Rica cigarettes' advertising campaign for television in 1976, which had him read the tagline "I like to take advantage of everything, right?

Although Gérson played as a holding midfielder, Jonathan Wilson noted in a 2013 article for The Guardian that he was an early example of a more creative interpreter of this role, who focussed more on ball retention and passing rather than solely looking to win back possession.

[14] A tactically intelligent, efficient, and technically gifted midfield playmaker, he was considered the "brain" behind the Brazilian squad that won the 1970 World Cup.

He symbolically ripped up a piece of paper, a clear representation of Pelé's list, on a local broadcasting station saying that "I respect his opinion, but I don't agree.