Born in Lisbon, Ribeiro was brought up in S.L. Benfica's youth system. In 2002, he was one of three young players sold to fellow Primeira Liga club Varzim SC, along with Rui Baião and Pepa. In January 2005, after angering his employers Gil Vicente F.C. by an unauthorised absence, he was purchased by the Russian Premier League's FC Dynamo Moscow; unadjusted, he left the team precisely a year after, joining La Liga side Málaga CF until the end of the season, which ended in relegation. In January 2007, Ribeiro returned to Portugal, joining C.D. Aves still on loan from the Russians. On 4 February, he played his first league match for his new club against S.C. Braga, as the team he represented again dropped down a level. He would be purchased by Boavista F.C. in July and blossomed as a top flight player, scoring eight league goals during his only campaign, many from free kicks.
Return to Benfica
On 24 July 2008, Ribeiro returned to Benfica after a deal was agreed upon in April. Having scored his first goal for them on 22 September in a 4–3 win at F.C. Paços de Ferreira, he eventually became first-choice left-back, overtaking Brazilian Léo. However, Ribeiro soon lost his starting place to David Luiz, and eventually was deemed surplus to requirements. In the 2009–10 season, as Benfica won the league and the League Cup, he did not collect one single official appearance, often training separately and choosing to see out his lucrative contract rather than signing with another club. On 16 August 2011, after spending five months on loan to Vitória de Guimarães, Ribeiro signed for two years with Granada CF on a free transfer. He only made one official appearance with the Andalusians – 55 minutes against Real Sociedad for the round of 32 in the Copa del Rey – losing his No. 16 jersey in the winter transfer window and being released from contract on 17 February 2012.
Later years
In the summer of 2013, after more than one year out of football, Ribeiro returned to active, penning a one-year contract with S.C. Olhanense but being released less than one month later, still during pre-season play. He subsequently returned to Aves, where he was a regular until his departure. Ribeiro signed a one-year deal with Atlético Clube de Portugal also of the LigaPro in July 2015. After the season ended with relegation to the third tier, he moved to S.C. Farense at that level; after scoring six times in 30 games to win promotion in his second year, he extended his contract until 30 June 2019. In July 2019, the 37-year-old Ribeiro joined Casa Pia A.C. in his hometown, newly promoted to division two.
Jorge's older brother, Nuno, was also a footballer. A midfielder, he represented, among others, Benfica, FC Porto and Chelsea, and the two were teammates at Dynamo Moscow.
