DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2015v17n5p601   This study investigated the impact of performance traits on self-determined motivation in high-performance soccer athletes. Participants were professionalized and non-professionalized athletes from a soccer club of the state of Paraná, totaling 182 subjects. Data were collected using the Sport Motivation Scale and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale through previous scheduling and the application of research instruments occurred through direct contact with subjects during practices, which were individually answered with average duration of 35 minutes. For data analysis, Mann-Whitney, Spearman correlation and Simple Regression were conducted (p<0.05). Results showed that professional athletes had higher levels in externally controlled motivation compared to non-professionalized (p<0.05) athletes, while non-professionalized athletes were more amotivated (p=0.002). Professionalized athletes had higher scores in the adaptive perfectionism domains compared to non-professionalized athletes (p<0.05). Adaptive perfectionism had significant impact (p<0.05) on the self-determined motivation regulations in professional athletes, while maladaptive perfectionism had an effect (p<0.05) on the external regulation of non-professionalized athletes. It was concluded that for athletes who reach professional level, adaptive perfectionism is an intervening element in the development of self-determined motivation. In addition, for non-professionalized