He started at Grêmio and moved to Vasco da Gama in 1996, where he won the Brasileirãoin1997. In 1998, he signed with Beira-Mar winning a Portuguese Cup in 1999 and transferring to Benfica in 2002, where he won another Portuguese Cup in 2004. In 2007, he moved to the V-League, playing for Hanoi T&T on two different spells, winning three major titles.
Born in Porto Alegre, Cristiano started at Grêmio in 1994, and spending two years in their youth system.[2] In 1996, he moved to Vasco da Gama and helped them win the Brasileirão in 1997.[2] After a short period back at Grêmio, Cristiano moved abroad and joined Beira-Mar in 1998. He was sparsely used in his first year, that ended with mixed results: relegation in the Primeira Divisão and the conquering the Portuguese Cup.[2] His influence grew in the following three seasons and he became known as free-kick specialist.[3][4]In2001–02, Cristiano scored three league goals, two of them against Porto, and in both times, Beira-Mar won.[5][6]
In June 2002, Benfica signed him on a four-year deal, with Diogo Luís and Toni going in the other direction on loan deals.[7][8] From early on, Cristiano struggled with competition from Ricardo Rocha, and on occasions, Cabral.[9][10] He only made his debut on 3 November 2002 against Santa Clara,[11] but with the arrival of José Antonio Camacho, he began playing much more frequently, finishing the season with 14 appearances.[12] The following season, Cristiano was set to reunite with Jesualdo FerreiraatBraga, but the loan deal fell through.[13][14] Still, Cristiano started 8 league games in the first half of the season, until the arrival of Fyssas in January.[15] From then on, he became a bench player and never returned to the starting eleven.[16] In May, he added his second trophy in Portugal, after winning the 2003–04 Taça de Portugal.[17]
In July 2004, he was loaned to Belenenses for one year.[18][19] Initially, he was an undisputed starter playing six games in a row, but an injury in late October,[20][21] cause him to lost his place to Cabral and José Sousa.[22]In2005–06, Cristiano could not find a team and was placed in Benfica B,[23][24] but mutually terminated his contract on late September 2005.[25] After Benfica, he spent some time at Juventude in the Série A, before moving to Atromitos in the Greek league.[2] He played for Hanoi T&T in 2007 and returned to Beira-Mar in July 2008, playing 26 games in the Liga de Honra.[26] In 2009, Cristiano moved back to Hanoi T&T and won the league in 2010 and 2013, retiring in 2013.[27] In August 2015, he came out of retirement for a third stint at Beira-Mar, after they were relegated to the Aveiro FA's second division.[28]
^"Livres continuam a ser mais valia" [Free-kicks continue to be an advtantage]. Record (in Portuguese). 6 October 2001. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
^"Toni e Diogo Luís por Cristiano" [Toni and Diogo Luís in exchange for Cristiano]. Record (in Portuguese). 11 July 2002. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
^"Parceria com Benfica" [Partnership with Benfica]. Record (in Portuguese). 12 July 2002. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
^"Ricardo Rocha: "Não tive problemas"" [Ricardo Rocha: "I had no problems playing left-back"]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 September 2002. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
^"Cristiano regressa a Aveiro" [Cristiano returns to Aveiro]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
