Diogo Costa, Portugal’s surprise hero in historic penalty shootout

Diogo Costa, the unexpected Portuguese hero of this European Cup, was born in Switzerland. In Rothrist, to be precise. A small town with a population of only 7,500. At the age of seven he was already on Portuguese soil, and now, at 24, he is an idol throughout Portugal. He made a saving leg against Cesko in extra time and He saved three penalties in the penalty shootout. All of them, actually, that the Slovenians took. No one has ever saved three penalties in a penalty shootout at the European Championship.

He was apparently voted the most valuable player in the match against Slovenia. “He had some outstanding moments. In addition to three unprecedented saves in the penalty shootout, he made a great save in a one-on-one with Cesko in overtime. “He showed a high level of concentration throughout the match, which is the hallmark of a top-level goalkeeper in a major competition.” analyzed by the UEFA Technical Observer Group.

But it comes from afar. The Porto youth player set a new record in 2022, becoming the goalkeeper who saved the most penalties (3) in the same Champions League campaign. He is, in fact, the goalkeeper with the most penalties saved in the Champions League with the Dragons. How long that will last in northern Portugal is anyone’s guess. He has a contract until 2027, but he has been dreaming of joining a big European team for years. This national team tournament is the showcase I needed.

He’s a star, he’s going to be a great goalkeeper.

Iker Casillas

“He’s a star, he’ll be a great goalkeeper,” Iker Casillas himself predicted in the past. Lopetegui’s technical staff noticed his talent and decided to invite him to train – although he did not make his debut – with the first team. “He was very young. He was 15 or 16 years old. We had Casillas, but Julen liked him. The club had a lot of faith in him,” Juan Carlos Arevalo, Porto’s goalkeeping coach at the time, recalled to MARCA.

I was very young. I was 15-16. We had Casillas, but Julen liked him. The club had a lot of faith in him.

Juan Carlos Arevalo, former goalkeeping coach of Porto

“These are the most difficult games because I haven’t touched the ball for a long time. I was focused on taking advantage of the opportunity when it came. I put all my energy into it. First of all, I’m very happy to be able to help the team and I want to dedicate this game to myself, to my family, which is an additional motivation for me, I will never miss work, I kill myself with work and self-belief (this was one of the happiest games of my career). What I can help my team the most is what I’m focusing on. Work compensates for everything. It’s family, work and a lot of dedication every day. In this match I followed my instinct, I thought I had to do it and thank God. “I’m very happy that I can help the team, this is the most important thing for me,” Diogo Costa himself said at the end of the game.

There will never be a lack of work on my part. I kill myself by working and believing in myself.

Diogo Costa

As for his reputation as a “penalty saver” (which is a fact), Arevalo comments: “He is a specialist, extremely calm. His self-confidence is amazing.” At 24, Diogo Costa is set to make history and set some very high records for the Portuguese national team. He has 154 official appearances for Porto and 26 appearances for his country.