Naldo played as a versatile two-footed central defender. He stands at 1.98 metres tall and this height, combined with his jumping and heading ability, made him a big threat in aerial contests. He was also well known for his set piece skill and according to Dunga, who coached him at the 2007 Copa América, he could hit the ball in excess of 60 mph using the cannonball free kick method, associated with other fellow Brazilians such as Roberto Carlos, Alex, David Luiz and Adriano. Furthermore, he was capable of playing across the back line.