Born in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Thiago Heleno was a Cruzeiro youth graduate.
He made his first team – and Série A – debut on 16 April 2006, coming on as a second-half substitute for injured Moisés in a 1–2 away loss against São Caetano.
[1] Thiago Heleno scored his first professional goal on 3 June 2006, netting the first in a 2–0 win at Fortaleza.
[3] Thiago Heleno appeared in only five league matches (scoring in a 3–4 home loss against Atlético Goianiense), and was released at the end of the season.
[5] On 26 March 2011, Thiago Heleno scored a double in a 3–0 Campeonato Paulista home win against Bragantino, which granted his team's qualification to the following round.