A product of hometown S.C. Braga's youth system, he was promoted to the first team for the 2007–08 season as fourth goalkeeper.
In the 2009–10 campaign, with the club in the Primeira Liga for the first time in 34 years, he started in the last matchday as the side were already safe from relegation, featuring in the 2–2 away draw against F.C.
Four years later, after a season-long loan at the club, he joined Portimonense S.C. from the Segunda Liga on a three-year contract.
[6] The 32-year-old moved abroad for the first time in his career in February 2022, joining FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda of the Slovak Super Liga on a one-and-a-half-year deal.
[7] Ricardo won his only cap for the Portugal under-21s on 16 July 2009, in a 7–1 rout of India in that year's Lusofonia Games.