Ricardinho

Early career

Born in São Paulo, Ricardinho began his career at Paraná Clube and had one season at FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the French Ligue 1 in 1997–98. He returned to his hometown and joined Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, winning two national titles and the first FIFA Club World Cup in 2000. After the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he transferred to city rivals São Paulo FC, where he partnered international teammate and fellow World Cup winner, Kaká.

Middlesbrough

After cancelling his deal at the start of the year, Ricardinho returned to Europe on 2 February 2004 when he signed for Middlesbrough for the rest of the Premier League season. He reunited with international teammates Juninho Paulista and Doriva at the club. He played one reserve team game against Wolverhampton Wanderers and manager Steve McClaren suggested he would make the first team for the game against Newcastle United, but he only ever made the substitutes' bench once, against Chelsea. He was released on 22 April after he complained about his lack of playing time; McClaren said that he was signed to cover injuries and suspensions that had since passed.

Santos

In May 2004, Ricardinho returned to football in the state of São Paulo, signing for Santos FC on a deal until the end of 2005. He was unable to register for the Copa Libertadores due to a documentation deadline. His first goal on 10 July was a last-minute winner in a 2–1 home victory against São Paulo, as his team went on to win…

Ricardinho earned 23 caps for the Brazil national team. His first on 28 March 2000, as a half-time substitute in a goalless draw away to Colombia in 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification. Ricardinho was called up by Luiz Felipe Scolari for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan as a late replacement for the injured Emerson; he made the team at the expense of Alex. He was not expecting to be called up as he had scarcely featured in qualification after Scolari had replaced Vanderlei Luxemburgo; he went to his second home in Curitiba without his passport and attended mass without his mobile phone when he was called up. He appeared in three matches as a substitute during the tournament as Brazil won the World Cup for the record fifth time. At the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France, Ricardinho was a starter in a Brazil team that failed to advance from a four-team group for the first time since the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Pundit Tim Vickery commented that he struggled with pace, power and defending. On 17 August 2005, Ricardinho scored his only international goal, equalising with a free kick in a 1–1 friendly draw with Croatia in Split. Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira chose him for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He appeared in two matches as a substitute, against Japan and Ghana. In the latter, a minute after coming on for Kaká, he assisted the last goal of a 3–0 win by Zé Roberto.

In January 2012, Ricardinho retired at the age of 35 and became the manager of Paraná, where he had begun playing 17 years earlier. He restored the team to the top flight of the Campeonato Paranaense but resigned in September after a draw against Grêmio Barueri Futebol in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. He resigned as manager of Avaí FC in June 2013 after three successive defeats in the national second divisiom. In September 2014, he returned to Paraná in the same league. Ricardinho became manager of Santa Cruz Futebol Clube in 2015, winning the Campeonato Pernambucano. He was dismissed in June with the team in the Série B relegation zone. In February 2016, Ricardinho was appointed at Associação Portuguesa de Desportos. He was fired on 28 March after any possibility of reaching the top division of state football was extinguished. On 21 September, he was tasked with saving Tupi Futebol Clube from relegation from Série B. He resigned with three games to go on 9 November, with the team still in the drop zone. With two wins and four draws from ten games in the Paraná state league, Ricardinho was dismissed by Londrina Esporte Clube on 8 March 2018.

Club

International

Ricardinho is lauded for his defensive quality, in addition to his offensive prowess. He has been regarded by some experts as the greatest futsal player of all time.

Club

Benfica

Liga Portuguesa: 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12 Taça de Portugal: 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12 Supertaça de Portugal: 2006, 2007, 2009 UEFA Futsal Cup: 2009–10 Nagoya Oceans

F. League: 2010–11, 2012–13 F. League Ocean Cup: 2010, 2012 Inter Movistar

Primera División: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20 Copa de España: 2014, 2016, 2017 Copa del Rey: 2014–15 Supercopa de España: 2015, 2017, 2018 UEFA Futsal Cup: 2016–17, 2017–18 ACCS Asnières Villeneuve 92

Championnat de France de Futsal: 2020–21 Championnat de France de Futsal Division 2: 2021–22 Riga Futsal Club

Latvian Futsal Premier League: 2023–24

National team

Portugal

Futsal Mundialito: 2007 UEFA Futsal Championship: 2018 FIFA Futsal World Cup: 2021

Individual

Best Player of the World: 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Liga Portuguesa Best Player: 2006–07 Liga Portuguesa Top scorer: 2006–07 (49 goals) Liga Portuguesa Best Young Player: 2002–03 F. League Best Player: 2010–11 Primera División de Futsal Best Player: 2013–14, 2014–15 Copa de España Best Player: 2014 UEFA Futsal Championship Best Player: 2007, 2018 UEFA Futsal Championship Top Scorer: 2016 (6 goals, shared), 2018 (7 goals) FIFA Futsal World Cup Best Player: 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup Golden Shoe: 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup Bronze Ball: 2012 Best Team of the Year Winger: 2020 Orders

Commander of the Order of Prince Henry Commander of the Order of Merit