His nickname is derived from the Portuguese translation of Dopey, a dwarf from the Snow White tale, and was given to him by his uncle due to his short height during his childhood. It was believed that he would be a short adult and the nickname remained in use even after he grew up and became taller. He is of Italian and German descent.
At the club level, Dunga played for Internacional (1980–84, 1999–2000), Corinthians (1984–85), Santos (1985–87), Vasco da Gama (1987), Pisa (1987–88), Fiorentina (1988–92), Pescara (1992–93), VfB Stuttgart (1993–95), and Jubilo Iwata (1995–98).
Internationally, Dunga played 91 times for Brazil, scoring six goals. His international career began in 1983 at the u-20 World Cup. Dunga captained the young Brazilian squad, winning the tournament against Argentina in the final. A year later, he helped Brazil to win a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Dunga then started to get calls for Brazil's main squad, winning the 1989 Copa América by defeating Uruguay at the Maracanã Stadium.
In 1990, he was a starter for Brazil at the World Cup 1990. After a lackluster tournament and the subsequent elimination in the second round by arch rivals Argentina, Dunga was held responsible more so than his teammates for the worst campaign at a World Cup since 1966. In the following years, he would be consistently targeted by Brazilian press due to his supposedly thuggish style of playing. This period in Brazil's football history was called "Era Dunga," as according to fans and journalists he symbolized the less than thrilling, slow, and defensive style of the team. In spite of that, Brazil's new coach Carlos Alberto Parreira kept Dunga as one of the starting XI throughout the 1994 World Cup Qualifiers and Finals.
Raí actually started the 1994 World Cup as Brazilian captain but after being allegdly the responsible for Brazil's poor performances, he was dropped altogether for Mazinho. Dunga took the captaincy and went on to lift the trophy.
Four years later, although playing in the lower standard J. League in Japan, he captained Brazil once more to the final where they lost to France.
Dunga played the anchor role in midfield extremely effectively. Many other players in this position lunged into tackles and put themselves about, but Dunga rarely went to ground to make a tackle, instead using his anticipation and timing.
In 1994, he often served as the captain of the team. Dunga scored the third penalty kick in the finals against Italy. He assumed the captain role for the next four years until the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The 1998 tournament was notable for the lack of teamwork. It was often visible as Dunga got into a fight with teammate Bebeto in the first round match against Morocco, forcing the rest of the team to break them up. Dunga also scored in the fourth penalty kick in the shootout eventually won by Brazil against the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
Honours as a player
Internacional
* Rio Grande do Sul State League: 1982, 1983, 1984
Vasco da Gama
* Rio de Janeiro State League: 1987
* Guanabara Cup: 1986
Júbilo Iwata
* J. League: 1997
Brazil U-20
* FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1983
* South American Youth Championship: 1983
Brazil
* FIFA World Cup: 1994
* FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997
* South American Pre-Olympic Tournament: 1984
