Born in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Gladstone started playing professionally with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube at the age of 18.
From then onwards he started a series of consecutive loans, starting in the 2005–06 season in Italy: first with Juventus FC and, after no appearances, with Hellas Verona FC, but the former club chose not to activate the pre-set price of €2 million,[1] one of the reasons being the impending 2006 Italian football scandal; he subsequently returned to Cruzeiro, signing a new three-year deal.
In 2007–08, Gladstone was loaned out again, this time to Sporting CP,[2] where he rarely played due to the presence of compatriot Ânderson Polga and Tonel.
[8] From 2013 and until his retirement, save for one year back in the Portuguese top division with Gil Vicente FC,[9] Gladstone competed exclusively in the Brazilian lower leagues.
Gladstone was a member of the Brazil under-20 squad at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands, taking home the bronze medal.