Diego Costa Brazilian Footballer Born 1988 in Lagarto

Early life

Diego da Silva Costa was born on 7 October 1988 in Lagarto, in the Brazilian state of Sergipe. His father named him after the Argentine footballer Diego Maradona. He grew up playing street football in a remote town and did not expect to become a professional. He later set up a football academy in his hometown and pays its costs himself.

After an unsuccessful trial with the local club, he left Sergipe at 15 and moved to São Paulo, where he worked in a shop run by an uncle. That uncle recommended him to Barcelona Esportivo Capela, a club on the south side of the city, and Costa turned professional there. His performances in the under-18 Taça de São Paulo drew the attention of the agent Jorge Mendes, who offered him a contract with the Portuguese club Braga.

Career

Costa joined Braga in 2006 but did not establish himself there. He spent time on loan at Penafiel before moving to Atlético Madrid in the following year. Over the next two seasons he went out on loan to Braga, Celta de Vigo and Albacete. In 2009 he joined Real Valladolid for a season, ending it as the club's top scorer, and then returned to Atlético. A further loan took him to Rayo Vallecano in 2012, where he again finished as the club's leading scorer.

From the 2012-13 season he became a regular for Atlético under the coach Diego Simeone. He scored in the 2013 Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid and finished as the competition's top scorer. In the 2013-14 season he scored 27 league goals as Atlético won La Liga, and he reached the Champions League final with the club, scoring eight goals in the competition.

In 2014 Chelsea signed him by meeting his release clause. In England he won the Premier League in 2014-15 and 2016-17 and the League Cup in 2015. He also reached the 2017 FA Cup final, scoring there. After the 2016-17 season he left Chelsea, and in January 2018 he returned to Atlético. There he won the 2017-18 Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup in 2018, in which he scored after fewer than a minute, and a second La Liga title followed in 2020-21. His contract with the Spanish club ended in December 2020.

He then played in Brazil for Atlético Mineiro, winning the national league and the Copa do Brasil in 2021. In 2022 he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he made 25 appearances and scored once. He returned to Brazil with Botafogo in 2023 and signed with Grêmio in February 2024, finishing that year's Campeonato Gaúcho as top scorer. He announced his retirement from professional football in February 2026.

International career

Costa was born in Brazil and played twice for the Brazilian national side in friendly matches in March 2013. After obtaining Spanish citizenship, he chose to represent Spain, and he made his debut for them in March 2014. He took part in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups and scored his first World Cup goals against Portugal in 2018, followed by the winning goal against Iran.

Recognition

Costa was named the first La Liga Player of the Month in September 2013. He was also in the La Liga Team of the Season and the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season for 2013-14, and he won the Zarra Trophy that year. In England he earned the Premier League Player of the Month award in August 2014 and November 2016, and he was named in the PFA Team of the Year for 2014-15. He holds the record for the fastest goal in a UEFA Super Cup, scored 49 seconds into the 2018 match.