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 Leagueseason. He reunited with international teammates Juninho Paulista and Doriva at the club.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] 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 the national title.[8] He and teammates Léo (left-back) and Robinho (forward) made the Bola da Prata Team of the Year.[9]
In January 2006, Ricardinho returned to Corinthians on a two-year deal. He was one of Media Sport Investment's signings for the club and was given a monthly salary of 250,000 Brazilian reais, compared to the 430,000 of their fellow signing Carlos Tevez.[11]
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.[19] 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.[20] He appeared in three matches as a substitute during the tournament as Brazil won the World Cup for the record fifth time.[3]
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.[3]
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.[21] 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.[22]
He resigned as manager of Avaí FC in June 2013 after three successive defeats in the national second divisiom.[25] In September 2014, he returned to Paraná in the same league.[24]
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.[28] On 21 September, he was tasked with saving Tupi Futebol Clube from relegation from Série B.[29] He resigned with three games to go on 9 November, with the team still in the drop zone.[30]
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.[31]