Born in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Petrolina only played lower league football in his country. In 2010, the 24-year old moved to Portugal where he would spend the vast majority of his professional career, starting out at C.D. Trofense in the Segunda Liga.
Petrolina signed with Primeira Liga club S.C. Beira-Mar for the 2011–12 season. He made his debut in the competition on 14 August 2011, starting and playing 80 minutes in a 0–0 away draw against C.S. Marítimo.[2] His first goal arrived two weeks later, when he helped his team to a 3–0 away win over Vitória de Guimarães.[3]
On 5 July 2014, after one year in Hungary with Videoton FC where he scored eight goals from 35 competitive appearances, Petrolina signed a two-year contract with F.C. Arouca also of the Portuguese top division.[4] In late January 2016, however, he joined Moreirense F.C. in the same league.[5]
In July 2021, Petrolina joined Leixões S.C. in the Portuguese second tier.[10] The 35-year-old announced his retirement in October,[11] only to return to his country with Sociedade Desportiva Juazeirense in February 2022.[12]
^Alves, Manuel (14 August 2011). "Marítimo-Beira Mar, 0–0 (crónica)" [Marítimo-Beira Mar, 0–0 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 21 February 2022.