Jair da Costa started his club career with Portuguesa as a youth, making his senior debut against XV Novembro de Jaú.

[1][2] Jair da Costa moved to Italian side Internazionale in November 1962, and went on to play a total of 260 senior games for the Milan club in two spells (1962–1967 and 1968–1972).

[3] He was notably a key member of Helenio Herrera's Grande Inter squad on the right wing, and won four Serie A titles (two of which were won consecutively),[4] and two European Cups in 1964[5] and 1965, as well as consecutive Intercontinental Cups in 1964 and 1965, during his time at the club.

Following his time in Italy, he later returned to Brazil in 1972 and played for Santos FC until 1974, winning the Campeonato Paulista in 1973.

[4][2][7] At international level, Jair da Costa only obtained one cap for the Brazil national football team, due to the presence of Garrincha in his position; his only appearance came in a 3–1 friendly win over Wales in São Paulo, on 16 May 1962.