PLAYER SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Diogo Meireles da Costa |
| Date of Birth | 19/09/1999 (Age: 26) |
| Place of Birth | Rothrist, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Height | 1.86 m / 6 ft 1 in |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Squad Number | #99 |
| Current Club | FC Porto |
| Previous Clubs | Porto (youth) |
| International Caps | 48 |
| International Goals | 0 |
| World Cup Appearances | 2022, 2026 |
| Contract Until | 2030 |
The Frozen Moment
The Estadio de la Cerámica in Vila-real. June 2025. UEFA Nations League final. Portugal and Spain were locked at 1-1, and the match had descended into the cruel lottery of a penalty shootout. Diogo Costa, the 25-year-old Porto goalkeeper, stood tall . He saved Álvaro Morata’s spot-kick, and Portugal were champions .
Less than a year later, Costa was facing Spain again—this time in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup . The outcome was different. Portugal lost 1-0 to a late Mikel Merino goal . But Costa was once again the standout performer for his country . He made five saves and was rated 7.8, the highest of any Portugal player on the night .
For Costa, this is the story of his career. He is the goalkeeper who thrives in the biggest moments, who saves penalties in finals, who makes crucial saves when his team needs him most. But he is also a player defined by resilience. He has become Portugal’s undisputed number one, the successor to Rui Patrício, and the captain of Porto. And he is just 26 years old.
Origins
Diogo Meireles da Costa was born in Rothrist, Switzerland, on September 19, 1999, to Portuguese parents . His family returned to Portugal when he was a child, and he joined Porto’s youth academy at the age of 12 .
His rise through the youth ranks was remarkable. He was part of the Portugal U17 team that won the 2016 European Championship and the U19 team that won the 2018 European Championship . He also won the UEFA Youth League with Porto in 2019 .
He made his senior debut for Porto in the 2019-20 season, and by 2021 he had become the first-choice goalkeeper . After Pepe’s retirement in July 2024, Costa was named the new captain of Porto .
The European Forge
Costa’s career at Porto has been defined by silverware and consistency. He has won three Primeira Liga titles (2020, 2022, 2026) and four Taças de Portugal . He has also won the Taça da Liga and numerous individual awards, including Goalkeeper of the Season in Portugal.
His 2025-26 season was his best yet. He made 49 appearances across all competitions, including 12 in the Europa League . He kept 21 clean sheets in the Primeira Liga, a record for the competition . He saved 60 of the 75 shots he faced—an 80% save rate . He conceded just 15 goals in 33 league matches .
He made his senior debut for Portugal in 2021 and has since earned 48 caps . He represented Portugal at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 . He won the UEFA Nations League in 2025, saving a penalty in the final shootout against Spain .
The Anatomy of His Game
Costa is a complete modern goalkeeper. His game is defined by his shot-stopping ability, composure, and penalty-saving expertise.
In possession
, he is comfortable on the ball, capable of playing out from the back. His distribution is reliable, and he is a key part of Porto’s build-up play. He was ranked highly in the FIFA Power Rankings for his distribution .
Out of possession
, his shot-stopping is elite. In the 2025-26 Primeira Liga season, he had an 80% save percentage and conceded just 0.46 goals per 90 minutes . In the Champions League and Europa League, his save percentage was 74.4% and he conceded 0.83 goals per 90 .
His penalty-saving ability
is one of his greatest weapons. He has saved 14 penalties during regulation time out of 52 faced, a rate of 26.92% . He has also been involved in three penalty shootouts: he saved all three penalties against Slovenia at Euro 2024, saved the decisive penalty against Spain in the 2025 Nations League final, but was unable to save any against Arsenal in the 2023-24 Champions League .
His leadership
is another key quality. He is the captain of Porto, a role he has embraced since Pepe’s retirement . He is described as “indispensable” between the posts for Portugal .
His weakness
has been his inability to single-handedly carry his team in certain matches. In the 2026 World Cup, despite his heroic performance against Spain, Portugal were eliminated .
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: The Data Snapshot (2025/26 Season)
| Competition | Apps | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets | Save % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primeira Liga | 33 | 15 | 21 | 80.0% |
| Europa League | 12 | 10 | 4 | 74.4% |
| World Cup | 5 | 3 | 2 | — |
| Total | 49 | 28 | 27 | 77.4% |
Source:
TABLE B: Performance Metrics (2025/26 Season)
| Metric | Primeira Liga | Europa League |
|---|---|---|
| Shots Faced | 75 | 39 |
| Saves | 60 | 29 |
| Save % | 80.0% | 74.4% |
| GA90 | 0.46 | 0.83 |
| Clean Sheets | 21 | 4 |
| Matches | 33 | 12 |
Sources:
TABLE C: International Career (as of 2026)
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Senior Caps | 48 |
| Senior Goals | 0 |
| Debut | 2021 |
| World Cups | 2022, 2026 |
| UEFA Nations League Winner | 2025 |
| Euro 2024 Quarter-Finalist | 2024 |
Source:
TABLE D: Career Milestones
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Porto Debut | Made senior debut for Porto |
| 2021 | Portugal Debut | First senior cap for Portugal |
| 2021 | Primeira Liga Winner | First of three titles |
| 2022 | World Cup Campaign | Represented Portugal |
| 2024 | Porto Captain | Named club captain |
| 2025 | Nations League Winner | Saved penalty in final shootout |
| 2025-26 | Record Clean Sheets | 21 clean sheets in Primeira Liga |
| 2026 | World Cup Campaign | Represented Portugal |
Sources:
What these figures reveal is a player who has been a consistent performer at the highest level. He has won three Primeira Liga titles, four Taças de Portugal, and the UEFA Nations League. He has made over 200 appearances for Porto and has 48 caps for Portugal. He is the captain of his club and the undisputed number one for his country.
The Present Tense
At 26, Diogo Costa is at the peak of his powers. He is the captain of Porto, the undisputed number one for Portugal, and one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. He has just completed a record-breaking season, keeping 21 clean sheets in the Primeira Liga.
At the 2026 World Cup, Costa was one of Portugal’s best players. He played all five matches, kept two clean sheets, and conceded just three goals. He was Portugal’s highest-rated player in the Round of 16 defeat to Spain, with a rating of 7.8 . His tournament performance saw him climb to the top of the ‘Defending the Goal’ rankings in the FIFA Power Rankings, with 19 saves and 69 goal preventions from 23 shots faced .
His future at Porto is secure. He is under contract until 2030, and his market value is estimated at around €40 million . He is a symbol of the club’s commitment to developing and retaining top talent.
Beyond the Touchline
Off the pitch, Costa is known for his professionalism and leadership. He is a quiet and humble character, but his presence in the dressing room is undeniable.
He is a proud representative of Portugal, despite being born in Switzerland . He has spoken about the importance of representing his country. His journey from the youth ranks to the captaincy of Porto is a testament to his hard work.
The Verdict from the Camp
Roberto Martínez, Portugal head coach:
Costa is “indispensable” between the posts for Portugal .
Diogo Costa, on his team's performance in the 2026 World Cup:
Costa was one of the few bright spots in Portugal’s Round of 16 defeat to Spain .
Where Next?
Diogo Costa is 26 years old and already one of the most decorated goalkeepers in Portuguese history. He has won three Primeira Liga titles, four Taças de Portugal, and the UEFA Nations League. He is the captain of Porto and the undisputed number one for Portugal. He has 48 caps and is poised to become Portugal’s most-capped goalkeeper.
His legacy is still being written. He is the goalkeeper who saved a penalty in the Nations League final and kept 21 clean sheets in a single Primeira Liga season. He is the leader who inspires his teammates and the shot-stopper who can single-handedly keep his team in a game. The journey from Rothrist to the World Cup has been remarkable. The boy who was born in Switzerland and became a Portuguese international is now one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. His future is bright.
