ˈæftɚ ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntɪŋ bɹɐzˈɪl ɪnðɪ ˌʌndɚ sˈɛvəntˌiːn ænd ˌʌndɚ twˈɛnti lˈɛvəlz, liənˈɑːɹdoʊ wʌz kˈɔːld ˌʌp tə ðə mˈeɪn skwˈɑːd baɪ mˈænɪdʒɚ kˈɑːɹloʊz ælbˈɜːɾoʊ pˈæɹɛɹə ˌɔn ˈeɪtiːn ˈeɪpɹəl tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪv, fɚɹə fɹˈɛndli ɐɡˈɛnst ɡwˌɑːɾɪmˈɑːlə.
After representing Brazil in the under-17 and under-20 levels, Leonardo was called up to the main squad by manager Carlos Alberto Parreira on 18 April 2005, for a friendly against Guatemala.