[5] Assis grew up around soccer, with his father not only being a former player, but also working as a game day doorman for Gremio while his uncles played as well.
[2][4][6] Assis was an inspiration for his brother Ronaldinho, nine years his younger, as his talents landed him a position with Gremio's youth team and led to a notable athletic career.
[12] Despite this success, and interest for him to play on Brazil's national team in 1992, hardship would again find him as Assis suffered a serious knee injury in 1991, sidelining him for 8 months.
[13] Then he went to stints in Portugal, Japan, Mexico, and returning to Brazil before finishing his athletic career with Montpellier HSC in France.
[4] Assis's younger brother Ronaldo, now known as Ronaldinho, would emerge as a similarly desired talent at Gremio's youth team.
Assis, who had experience in the world of association football as a negotiator and player and had taken on a paternal role for his brother, would act as manager for Ronaldinho throughout his career, until its end.
His son, Diego Assis, joined Flamengo's youth team while Ronaldinho was playing for them and would leave alongside his uncle.
[23] In March 2020 he was questioned by police in Paraguay, along with his brother and Brazilian businessman Wilmondes Sousa Lira, after the two were alleged to have used fake passports to enter the country while coming for a charity event and book promotion.