Born in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Rangel started playing as a senior for hometown club Goytacaz in 2002. In 2004, he moved to cross-town rivals Americano, but was rarely used at the club. After leaving the club in 2006, he worked as a general assistant for Caixa Econômica Federal before joining Ananindeua. On 16 December 2006 Rangel renewed with the club, and subsequently represented Angra dos Reis, Macaé, Bonsucesso and Baraúnas before returning to Pará in 2009, with Águia de Marabá. After being the latter's top goalscorer in 2009 Série C with six goals in only seven matches, he signed for Paysandu on 1 December 2009. On 23 December 2010, Rangel moved to Guarani also in the third division. He rescinded with the club the following 26 July, and agreed to a contract with Joinville just hours later. Released in June 2011, he subsequently joined Metropolitano. In 2013, Rangel signed for Chapecoense. He also became a prolific striker during his first season at the club, scoring a career-best 31 goals in only 34 league matches; his side also achieved promotion to Série A. On 9 January of the following year he moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Qatar Stars League side Al-Arabi SC. After appearing rarely, Rangel returned to Chape on 1 June 2014. He made his re-debut on 19 July, in a 1–0 away win against São Paulo, and scored his first goal on 30 August in a 2–4 loss at Cruzeiro. On 26 July 2015, Rangel scored all his team's goals in a 2–1 home win against Fluminense. He repeated the feat on 28 October, in a Copa Sudamericana home success over River Plate, but it was not enough to ensure qualification to the following round. On 12 December 2015, he renewed his contract for a further year. Rangel finished the 2016 Campeonato Catarinense as both champion and top goalscorer, with ten goals under his name; during the tournament he became Chape's biggest goalscorer, surpassing Índio. On 1 June 2016 he scored a hat-trick in a 4–3 away win against Coritiba, and reached his 80th goal for the club on 7 September in a 2–2 draw against Santa Cruz, through a penalty kick. On 29 October 2016, again from the spot, Rangel scored his last goal as a footballer, in a 1–1 away draw against Corinthians.
