Ricardo Cerqueira

José Ricardo Batista Cerqueira (born 29 December 2001), known as Ricardo Cerqueira or just Ricardo, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as either a central defender or a right back for Capivariano, on loan from Cuiabá.

Capivariano
Born in Santanópolis, Bahia, Ricardo played for the youth sides of Sergipe and Capivariano, being promoted to the first team of the latter in January 2021. He made his senior debut on 14 March, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 Campeonato Paulista Série A3 away loss against Bandeirante; it was his only appearance of the season, as he subsequently returned to the under-20 team.

After playing in the 2022 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior with the under-20s, Ricardo became a starter for Capivariano in the 2022 Paulista Série A3. He scored his first senior goal on 5 March of that year, scoring the winner in a 2–1 home success over Desportivo Brasil but being also sent off late in the match.

Cuiabá
In July 2022, Ricardo moved to Cuiabá and was initially assigned to the under-23 team for the year's Campeonato Brasileiro de Aspirantes. He then appeared for the senior side on 3 September, in a 3–0 loss against Mixto for the year's Copa FMF, as the club was also utilizing the under-23 team in the competition.

On 20 January 2023, after contributing with the best campaign of the history of the under-20 side of Cuiabá in the Copa São Paulo, Ricardo signed a permanent contract with the club until the end of 2027. Seven days later, he was definitely promoted to the first team.

Ricardo made his first team debut for Dourado on 29 January 2023, replacing Pablo Ceppelini at half-time in a 3–0 Campeonato Mato-Grossense away win over Academia Futebol Clube. His Série A debut occurred on 27 May, as he replaced Raniele late into a 1–1 home draw against Coritiba.

Honours
Cuiabá
 * Campeonato Brasileiro de Aspirantes: 2022
 * Campeonato Mato-Grossense: 2023