After one season, Marcelinho left the UAE League side Al Nasr and signed for Mogi Mirim.

[9] On 12 May 2011, Marcelinho joined Bulgarian team Ludogorets Razgrad on a three-year deal and was assigned the number 84 jersey.

In the league, Marcelinho scored nine goals and collected his first A Group title winner's medal at the end of his first season in Bulgaria.

Marcelinho started the 2012–13 season by scoring the third goal in Ludogorets 3–1 win against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the 2012 Bulgarian Supercup on 11 July.

In mid July 2019, he was frozen out of the first team by manager Stoycho Stoev, following a number of disciplinary breaches.

[16] He returned to first team action on 18 August, as a substitute in the match against Cherno More Varna, providing an assist, but also being sent off for a second booking.

[18] On 24 January 2013, Marcelinho received a Bulgarian passport from the local authorities and became eligible to play for the Bulgaria national team.

[19][20] On 7 March 2016, Marcelinho was called up for the first time to the Bulgaria national team for the friendly matches against Portugal and Macedonia.

[23] In 2019 the new national manager Krasimir Balakov once again picked Marcelinho as part of the squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifications matches on 7 and 10 June against Czech Republic and Kosovo,[24] though he had to withdraw due to an injury.