An Eternal Porto Icon

Former defender Jorge Costa, an undisputed symbol of Porto, died on Tuesday at the age of 53 while at the club’s training center. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) expressed sorrow over the loss of “one of the most outstanding players of a generation fundamental to Portuguese football” and decreed a minute of silence during the first matchday of the league.

Nicknamed “Bicho” for his character and grit on the pitch, Costa played 383 matches for the “Dragons” and won eight league titles, five cups, and five Portuguese Super Cups, in addition to lifting a Europa League and a Champions League under coach José Mourinho. With the Portuguese national team, he earned 50 caps and was part of the “Golden Generation” that won the 1991 U-20 World Cup alongside stars such as Luís Figo and Rui Costa.

Tributes From Across the Football World

Porto remembered him as an “indispensable figure” who embodied the club’s values: commitment, leadership, passion, and an unyielding will to win. “We will never forget you, captain,” the club wrote. Portugal’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and prime minister Luís Montenegro offered their condolences, highlighting him as an example for future generations.