A Santa Cruz youth graduate, Gilberto made his senior debut on 5 July 2009, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 Série D away win against CSA.

[2] After scoring twelve goals in 18 appearances (including four in a 4–1 home routing of Vitória das Tabocas), Gilberto returned to Santa and started to feature more regularly.

On 13 December 2013, Gilberto joined Major League Soccer side Toronto FC for a reported transfer fee of over $3 million, choosing MLS after turning down more lucrative offers from Mexico and Germany.

[10] On 27 June 2014, Gilberto scored his first goal for Toronto FC against the New York Red Bulls, lashing in a 72nd minute free-kick, after arguing with Defoe as to who would take the kick.

[11] Due to the arrival of Jozy Altidore, and Sebastian Giovinco in January 2015, both of whom would take up DP slots, after only one season with Toronto, Gilberto was loaned to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama on 20 February 2015.

[13][14] After scoring five goals in his first season – which included a brace against former club Toronto – Gilberto failed to find the net in his second, and his contract with Chicago Fire was mutually terminated on 29 June 2016.