In 1999, Paulo Miranda joined Vasco da Gama where he played alongside teammates with international experience such as Juninho Pernambucano and Romário and came to national attention.
In the Rio de Janeiro club, he won titles such as 2000 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Copa João Havelange) and 2000 Copa Mercosur, also playing the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship Final as a right-back, losing to Corinthians in the penalty shoot-out.
He was later negotiated to São Caetano in the same year where he stayed until 2006, when he was loaned to Coritiba[4] for the 2006 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, becoming one of a few to play for the three Curitiba's big clubs.
His time was plagued by injuries and his team failed to achieve promotion, while São Caetano was relegated to the 2nd division that year and he was released from his contract.
Even with offers from Rio de Janeiro clubs such as América and Olaria, he opted to move to Venezuela citing reasons such as payment on-time and opportunity to learn Spanish and seek an agent career after retirement.