CSKA Dushanbe have signed 32-year-old Brazilian striker Pedro Paulo — a member of Brazil’s South American U-17 title-winning squad and the 2022 AFC Cup top scorer.
Pedro Paulo becomes the club’s third Brazilian under Spanish head coach Juan Cortés. Shortly after his appointment, Cortés stated that CSKA would build around Brazilian players. To meet the Tajik league’s seven-foreigner squad limit, the club has recently moved on several African players to create roster space.
The striker has signed until the end of the current season — the same contract length agreed with two other foreign recruits: winger Brandão and attacking midfielder João Arthur. Pedro Paulo fills CSKA’s final available foreign-player slot.
Pedro Paulo featured for Brazil at youth level and was part of the squad at the 2011 South American U-17 Championship, where he scored twice against Venezuela. That generation also included future stars Lucas Piazón and Marquinhos. At the time, Pedro was viewed as a promising prospect, but fierce competition in Brazil and serious injuries — including ACL tears — prevented him from establishing himself at home. A later spell in Portugal also failed to revive his career.
In 2017, aged 27, he moved to Thailand’s second tier with Lampang. In an interview, Pedro Paulo later criticised the training culture there, saying some teammates “were afraid of the sun” and preferred to train only in the evening, with sessions often short despite the country’s strong infrastructure.
He rebuilt his reputation in Vietnam with Saigon FC, scoring 12 goals in his debut season to finish among the league’s top scorers. In 2020 he again netted 12 goals, this time finishing as the league’s outright top scorer as Saigon won bronze medals. His form earned him a move to reigning champions Viettel, where he chose the chance to play in the AFC Champions League.
Although his output later dropped amid stronger competition and recurring injuries, Pedro Paulo still produced decisive moments. In the 2022 AFC Cup, he scored five goals and provided one assist in four matches, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer as Viettel reached the knockout stage.
After his contract expired, Viettel opted not to extend the deal. Pedro Paulo then had a trial with another Vietnamese club, Nam Dinh, but did not complete the move following medical concerns. He later played in Thailand’s lower divisions and had a spell in Bahrain.
Since early 2025, Transfermarkt has listed footballer as a free agent, making his current condition difficult to assess from the outside. Historically, his main weapon was pace — though age and repeated injuries have likely reduced it — while his finishing, technique and ability to use his body in duels remain key strengths.
