In the opinion of Evaristo Macedo, Bahia's coach in 1988 and 1989, Paulo Rodrigues was the best player he ever coached. Paulo was a relentless defensive midfielder, but his best characteristic was his quality with the ball at his feet; he transitioned from defense to attack with rare precision and even reached the edge of the opponent's penalty area to finish at goal. He often drifted to the right side of the field, becoming an important surprise element in Bahia's attack.

Midfielder Paulo Rodrigues, a starter for Bahia in 1988, was a classic and elegant player. He possessed a level of skill uncommon among today's midfielders and orchestrated the team's attacks with precise passes and long balls. Unfortunately, he emerged very late on the national scene, at the age of 30, which prevented greater career advancements.

Diferente do que se vê atualmente, ele era um volante extremamente técnico, que sabia também armar. Tinha um estilo de jogo muito parecido com o de Toninho Cerezo. Apesar de seu estilo clássico, Paulo Rodrigues demorou muito para brilhar no futebol brasileiro. Quando isto aconteceu, ele já estava com quase 30 anos.