Diogo Costa (footballer, born 2003)

Diogo Costa
Personal information
Full name Diogo Filipe Pinto Costa
Date of birth (2003-07-27) 27 July 2003
Place of birth Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Lion City Sailors
Number 29
Youth career
2012–2016 AC Elite Sport
2016–2021 Famalicão
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2025 Famalicão 0 (0)
2023–2024 → Académica (loan) 12 (0)
2025 → Lion City Sailors (loan) 5 (0)
2025– Lion City Sailors 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 April 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 April 2025

Diogo Filipe Pinto Costa (born 27 July 2003) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Singapore Premier League club Lion City Sailors.

Club career

Famalicão

Costa has been with Famalicão since his teenage years. He progressed through the ranks and represented the club in various age levels, from under-15, under-17, under-19, and under-23 national competitions, captaining nearly every age group he has played in.[1] Costa signed his first professional contract on 3 September 2021.[2] He then signed a contract extension till 2026 on 21 March 2023.[3]

2023–24: Loan to Académica

Costa was loaned to Portuguese third tier club Académica in the second half of the 2023–24 campaign.[1] He made a total of 12 appearances for the club.

2024–25: Called up to senior side and loan to Lion City Sailors

Costa mainly played in the Liga Revelação. He was also named on the bench three times for Famalicão's senior side in the first half of the 2024–25 Primeira Liga season.

In the second half of the season, Singapore Premier League club Lion City Sailors announced the signing of Costa on loan from Famalicão until the end of the 2024–25 Singapore Premier League season on 25 January 2025.[1] Costa made his Singapore Premier League debut on 26 January 2025, in a 2–1 win against Geylang International.[4] Costa made his AFC Champions League Two debut in the first leg of the Round of 16 match against Muangthong United. Costa won his side a penalty after a mazy run into the box. Despite being a man down early in the second half, Diogo demonstrated his defensive prowess, playing a key role to protect their lead.[5] The matched eventually ended in a 3–2 victory to the Sailors.[6]

Costa made a hat-trick of assists, all for Lennart Thy, in a 8–0 win over Young Lions on 6 April 2025.[7]

Costa made two assists for Bart Ramselaar and Lennart Thy in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Two semi-finals against Sydney FC.[8] The matched ended in a 2–0 win at Jalan Besar Stadium. Despite a 1–0 defeat to Sydney at the Allianz Stadium, Costa helped the Sailors to create history, booking their spot in the final with a 2-1 aggregate victory in the semi-finals.[9] Costa assisted Lestienne in the final against Sharjah. However, the Sailors were unable to hold on and eventually conceded in the 97th minute to finish the game in a 1–2 defeat. Costa made 4 assists in 7 games in the Champions League Two campaign.[10][11] Costa scored his first professional goal in the second leg of the semi-final match against DPMM in the 2024–25 Singapore Cup.[12]

Costa ended the season winning the Singapore Premier League, the Singapore Cup and finished as a runner-up in the AFC Champions League Two.[13][14][15] He recorded 11 assists in 21 games across all competitions.

Lion City Sailors

On 8 July 2025, it was announced that Costa would be staying at the Singaporean club after signing a permanent five-year contract.[16]

Style of play

Costa is a modern-day full-back with lightning speed, aggression, and impressive dead-ball abilities. He is able to deliver pinpoint crosses, and quality set-pieces.[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 July 2025[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Famalicão 2023–24 Primeira Liga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2024–25 Primeira Liga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Académica 2023–24 Liga 3 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 12 0
Lion City Sailors (loan) 2024–25 Singapore Premier League 9 0 5 1 0 0 7[a] 0 — 21 1
Lion City Sailors 2025–26 Singapore Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 21 0 5 1 0 0 7 0 0 0 33 1
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League Two

Honours

Lion City Sailors

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sailors sign young Portuguese left-back Diogo Costa on loan". Lion City Sailors. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Diogo Costa assina contrato profissional". fcfamalicao.pt (in Portuguese). 3 September 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Diogo Costa renova até 2026". fcfamalicao.pt (in Portuguese). 21 March 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Sailors show character in crucial comeback victory over Geylang". Lion City Sailors. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Diogo determined to make history with the Sailors". Lion City Sailors. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  6. ^ "10-man Sailors secure first-leg advantage in ACL Two Round of 16 tie against Muangthong". Lion City Sailors. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Lennart's five-star show inspires Sailors to rout of Young Lions". Lion City Sailors. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Sailors seize control of ACL Two semi-final tie with 2-0 first-leg win over Sydney FC". Lion City Sailors. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  9. ^ "Sailors reach ACL Two final in historic first for Singapore football". Lion City Sailors. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  10. ^ "No fairytale ending, but Sailors end historic ACL Two campaign with heads held high". Lion City Sailors. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Sharjah edge Sailors to savour glory". AFC.com. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Defensive duo fires Sailors into back-to-back Singapore Cup finals". Lion City Sailors. 28 May 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Champions again! Sailors beat Tanjong Pagar to clinch SPL title". Lion City Sailors. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Sailors bask in SPL title-winning joy at Jalan Besar". Lion City Sailors. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  15. ^ "Sailors crown treble-winning season with Singapore Cup triumph over BG Tampines". Lion City Sailors. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Lion City Sailors secure Diogo Costa on permanent five-year deal". Lion City Sailors. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Diogo determined to impress as Sailors chase treble glory". Lion City Sailors. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  18. ^ Diogo Costa at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
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