Described as a late bloomer by scouts, Kléber began his career in the Brazilian professional league Second Division, playing for Moto Club in 1996.

Thanks to a recommendation by his ex-teammate Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Kléber was signed by Club América following his lone season at Veracruz.

Kléber did not actually play in the final, after being suspended for three games due to kicking Federico Lussenhoff of Cruz Azul in the groin in one of the semifinal matches.

The following season, Kléber won his second goalscoring title, sharing it with three other players (Vicente Matías Vuoso, Walter Gaitán and Sebastián Abreu).

[1] Kléber finished as the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2008 top scorer, with 21 goals, tied with Washington and Keirrison.