Clubs: Vila Nova FC, CF Estrela da Amadora, FC Porto

UEFA honours
UEFA Europa League: winner 2011

• Played lower-league football in Brazil with Vila Nova but rose to prominence with his performances at the South American Youth Championship in Paraguay in January 2007, helping Brazil to the title.

• Left his homeland in summer 2007, joining Porto, who signed him on five-year contract.

• Spent the first of those years on loan at Estrela, where he made 25 Liga appearances, scoring one goal.

• Returned to Porto in 2008 and settled into the side immediately, forming a balanced midfield axis alongside Raul Meireles and Lucho; started 25 of 30 matches as the Dragons won the league, and played 90 minutes of the cup final defeat of FC Paços de Ferreira.

• Retained the trophy the following year (2-1 v GD Chaves) and featured regularly in the Dragons' title triumph in 2010/11 and run to the UEFA Europa League final.