 After falling down the pecking order at Benfica, Argel had a six-month stay at Racing de Santander, going on to retire in 2007 after representing Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, Canoas Sport Club and Chinese club Zhejiang Lucheng FC.Argel represented Brazil at under-20 level, winning both the South American Youth Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup.On 29 March 1995 he earned his only cap for the full side, appearing in a friendly against Honduras.