Carlos Vinícius Alves Morais was born in Bom Jesus das Selvas, in the state of Maranhão, and began as a central defender in the Goiás youth system before being converted into a forward. Spells at Caldense and Grêmio Anápolis preceded his move to Portugal with Real SC, where 20 goals in the second tier during 2017/18 brought him to wider attention. Short stays at Napoli, Rio Ave and Monaco followed.

Benfica signed him in July 2019. In his first season he scored 18 league goals and took the Bola de Prata as the Primeira Liga's leading scorer, but the arrival of further competition reduced his role. He was loaned to Tottenham Hotspur in 2020/21 and to PSV Eindhoven in 2021/22, winning the KNVB Cup with the latter.

He returned to Lisbon in the summer of 2022 but was not part of Roger Schmidt's plans, and on 1 September 2022 he was sold to Fulham on a three-year contract, ending his time at the club with 24 goals in 55 appearances.