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This article is about the Spanish footballer. For other people with similar names, see Diego Costa (disambiguation).

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is da Silva and the second or paternal family name is Costa.
Diego Costa
Costa playing for Chelsea in 2015
Personal information
Full name Diego da Silva Costa[1]
Date of birth (1988-10-07) 7 October 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Lagarto, Brazil
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea
Number 19
Youth career
2004–2006 Barcelona EC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006 Braga 0 (0)
2006 → Penafiel (loan) 13 (5)
2007–2009 Atlético Madrid 0 (0)
2007 → Braga (loan) 6 (0)
2007–2008 → Celta (loan) 30 (6)
2008–2009 → Albacete (loan) 35 (10)
2009–2010 Valladolid 34 (8)
2010–2014 Atlético Madrid 94 (43)
2012 → Rayo Vallecano (loan) 16 (10)
2014– Chelsea 59 (37)
International career‡
2013 Brazil 2 (0)
2014– Spain 12 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 September 2016
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 September 2016

Diego da Silva Costa (Spanish: [ˈdjeɣo ða ˈsilβa ˈkosta], Portuguese: [ˈdʒjeɡu dɐ ˈsiwvɐ ˈkɔstɐ]; born 7 October 1988),[3][4] is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for English club Chelsea and the Spanish national team. He has been described by pundits as a talented striker whose main attributes are his physicality, goalscoring and ability to keep possession.[5][6] Costa has been criticised and punished for several confrontations with opponents.[7][8][9]

He began his career with Braga and Penafiel in Portugal, and was signed by Atlético Madrid in 2007. He was loaned back to Braga, and then to Celta de Vigo and Albacete before being sold to Real Valladolid in 2009. He returned to Atlético the following season and went on to play a key role in their attack, scoring 27 goals as they won the league title in 2014, and then joined Chelsea for £32 million. He scored 21 goals in his first season in England, winning the Premier League and League Cup.

Costa is originally Brazilian and was naturalized through residence in his seven years in Spanish football. Internationally, Costa played twice for Brazil in 2013, but later declared his desire to represent Spain, having been granted Spanish citizenship in September 2013. He made his debut for his adopted nation in March 2014, and represented them at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Early life

Costa was born in Lagarto, Sergipe, Brazil, to parents José de Jesus and Josileide.[10] His father named him in honour of Argentine footballer Diego Maradona despite the rivalry between the two nations, and he has an elder brother named Jair after Brazilian player Jairzinho.[10] Despite regularly playing street football, Costa did not believe as a child that he would turn professional, in part due to the remote location of his hometown.[10] He has since set up a football academy in his hometown, where he pays all the costs.[11] Costa is a fan of Palmeiras.[12]

Costa trialled unsuccessfully at his hometown team Atlético Clube Lagartense.[13] At age 15, he left Sergipe and moved to São Paulo, to work in the store of his uncle Jarminho.[10] Although he was never a professional, Jarminho had connections in football and recommended his nephew to Barcelona Esportiva Capela, a team from Ibiúna in the south of the city set up as an alternative to drugs and gangs for youth of the favelas.[10] Before joining this team, he had never been coached in football.[10][14] He turned professional at the club, earning around £100 per month,[10] and competed in the under-18 Taça de São Paulo despite a four-month ban for slapping an opponent and dissent towards the referee. Although he was sent off in the first game of the tournament, he attracted the attention of renowned Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes, who offered him a contract at Braga. Costa's father was apprehensive of sending his son to Europe, and suggested he instead sign for nearby Associação Desportiva São Caetano, but he was adamant that he would take the opportunity.[15]

Jair played on the same team as Diego, and was a slimmer, more technically able player, but had less focus; the two were often not fielded at the same time in order to prevent arguments. He never turned professional, but had a three-month trial at Basque club Salvatierra.[15]

Club career

Early career

Costa signed for his first European club in February 2006, Portugal's Braga.[16] He initially struggled with loneliness and the comparatively cold weather of northern Portugal.[17] Out of action due to the club's lack of a youth team, he was loaned that summer to Penafiel in the second division,[18] managed by former Portugal international Rui Bento, who desired the "rough diamond."[19]

Through his negotiations with Spain's Atlético Madrid,[19] Mendes arranged Costa's transfer for €1.5 million and 50% of the player's rights in December 2006,[20] but he remained on loan at Braga until the end of the season. Atlético defeated interest from Porto and Recreativo de Huelva for Costa's signature, with director Jesús García Pitarch admitting that it was a risk to pay so much for an inexperienced player.[21] After five goals in 13 games for Penafiel, he was recalled to Braga in January 2007.[21] On 23 February, he came on in the 71st minute for Zé Carlos and scored his first goal for the team, a last-minute goal for a 1–0 win at Parma to advance 2–0 on aggregate to the Last 16 of the UEFA Cup.[3] His season ended after seven games due to a metatarsal injury which ruled him out for six months.[22]

Costa was presented by Atlético President Enrique Cerezo on 10 July 2007 as "the new Kaká."[23] While scout Javier Hernández wished for him to return to fitness in the club's reserves, García Pitarch instead suggested loaning Costa out immediately.[22] He made his debut on 11 August in the Ciudad de Vigo tournament against Celta de Vigo, replacing Simão at half-time in a penalty shootout victory.[24]

Celta Vigo

Later that month, Costa and Mario Suárez were loaned to Segunda División Celta for the season, and he became a regular in the team, managed by former Ballon d'Or winner Hristo Stoichkov.[25] In his seventh league match, he scored his first goal in Spanish football in a dominant home victory over Xerez; after scoring, he showboated, causing a brawl which resulted in him being sent off. Costa was subsequently rested from Celta's away game at the same opposition. The event drew the wrath of Stoichkov, who unexpectedly left his position.[26] Towards the middle of the season, he was involved in two further controversies: he struck Málaga defender Weligton in the head, causing an injury which required medical stitches, and was sent off against Sevilla Atlético for diving and dissent, leaving his team to fight for a draw without him.[27] The loyal strike partner of Quincy Owusu-Abeyie despite the pair not sharing a common language, he was dropped for Cypriot Ioannis Okkas.[27] On 23 March 2008, Costa scored both Celta goals in a 2–1 win at Numancia, the latter after a long dribble;[28] but later on in the campaign, he was sent off against Tenerife at Balaídos, after which Celta went from winning 2–0 to drawing 2–2.[29] The team barely avoided relegation, and Costa earned a reputation for being a disruptive influence.[30]

Albacete

Despite earning a poor reputation for his conduct, Costa attracted interest from Salamanca, Gimnàstic de Tarragona and Málaga after his loan at Celta; García Pitarch ruled out any approach from the latter, fearing how Costa would behave on the Costa del Sol.[31] After attending Atlético's pre-season tour of Mexico, he signed on loan for Albacete, also of Segunda División, on 22 August 2008, signing a contract which would have a lower fee depending on how many games he played.[32] He initially threatened to terminate his deal with the Castile-La Mancha team, on account of the quality of his teammates and the city's lack of a beach.[32] Nine days after signing, he scored a late winner in a 2–1 victory over Sevilla's reserves at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte.[33] The Queso Mecánico suffered with financial problems during Costa's loan, with him threatening to strike unless their non-playing staff were paid in full.[34] He was dropped to the bench by manager Juan Ignacio Martínez for the home game against Real Sociedad on 13 December as punishment for an argument with goalkeeper Jonathan, but came on as a substitute to score another late winner.[35]

Costa was known for misbehaviour on and off the pitch while at Albacete. He was sent off away to Tenerife, after which he slandered the referee's mother and confronted his opponents.[36] He pulled practical jokes on his teammates and employers, earning him the moniker "that fucking Brazilian".[37] However, he was a central figure as they avoided relegation, assisting twice in a 3–0 win at high-flying Rayo Vallecano on 2 May 2009, despite missing a penalty.[38]

Valladolid

In the summer of 2009, Costa was desired by FC Barcelona for their reserve team, an approach which Atlético rejected, citing that he remained in their plans.[39] However, frustrated by his lack of opportunities, a now overweight Costa argued with his management and attempted to negotiate a move to Brazil's Esporte Clube Vitória.[40]

On 8 July 2009 Costa was sold to Real Valladolid as part of the deal that sent goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo in the opposite direction, with the transfer including a €1 million buy-back option that could be activated by Atlético at the end of the season.[41] García Pitarch confessed that there was a verbal agreement that Costa would definitely return at the end of the campaign, and that the deal had been made to look permanent in order to give Costa more commitment to his new club.[42]

Initially, Costa had competition up front from fellow new signings Alberto Bueno and Manucho, signed from Real Madrid and Manchester United respectively; he eventually forged a friendship with the latter, a fellow lusophone.[43] He started strong for the Castile and León side, scoring six times in his first 12 games,[44] but only found the net once in the following 5½ months as the campaign eventually ended in relegation from La Liga. He was sent off in a goalless draw against RCD Espanyol on 24 March 2010 for a stamp on Dídac Vilà in the first half.[45]

Atlético Madrid

2010–11 season

In June 2010, Costa returned to the Colchoneros, initially as a backup to Sergio Agüero and Diego Forlán – Atlético also paid an undisclosed sum to Braga to buy all the residual 30% economic rights (the former also had to pay in excess of €833,000 in agent's fees to Gestifute[46]). He was an unused substitute as Atlético won the 2010 UEFA Super Cup on 27 August.[4]

On 26 September, with the injured Agüero on the substitutes bench, Costa scored the game's only goal at home against Real Zaragoza.[47] On 3 April of the following year, already as a starter after manager Quique Flores demoted Forlán from his position, he netted all of his team's goals in a 3–2 win at Osasuna.[48]

2011–12 season

Costa on loan at Rayo Vallecano, celebrating with the goalscorer, Alhassane Bangoura, in a match against Levante, on 19 February 2012.

In July 2011, during Atlético's pre-season, Costa suffered a serious knee injury, going on to miss the majority of the season.[49] The injury prevented him from passing a medical at Turkish club Beşiktaş J.K., having already agreed to transfer to them.[50] On 23 January 2012, Costa was loaned to fellow league club Rayo Vallecano until June;[51] he scored four goals in his first three appearances, including two in a 5–3 away win against Levante,[52] eventually finishing his loan spell with ten goals from 16 games.

2012–13 season

For the second time in his career, Costa was an unused substitute as Atlético won the UEFA Super Cup on 1 September 2012.[53]

In December 2012, Costa was involved in several on-field altercations in two separate matches. The first was in a 0–2 local derby loss against Real Madrid where he avoided disciplinary action after spitting incidents between him and Sergio Ramos.[54] He was sent off in the following game at Viktoria Plzeň in the Europa League for headbutting opponent David Limberský, and was handed a four-match ban by UEFA.[55][56] This, however, did not deter coach Diego Simeone from continuing to start him, and he responded by netting three goals in two home contests, against Deportivo de La Coruña in the league (6–0)[57] and Getafe in the season's Copa del Rey (3–0).[58]

After the Spanish Cup semi-finals against Sevilla, Costa took his goal tally in the competition to seven in as many matches,[59] having scored three times in the tie: in the first leg he netted two penalties in a 2–1 win[60] and, in the second at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, scored one after an individual effort and assisted Radamel Falcao in the other, also being involved in situations which resulted in two opposing players – Gary Medel and Geoffrey Kondogbia – being sent off in the 2–2 draw.[61]

Costa scored Atlético's equalising goal in the Copa del Rey Final clash against city-rivals Real Madrid on 17 May 2013,[62] contributing to the 2–1 triumph – the first in 25 games in a streak stretching back to 1999 – and the tenth win in the tournament, confirmed by Miranda's extra-time header.[63] He and opponent Cristiano Ronaldo had gone into the match as joint top scorers in the tournament,[59] and thus Costa's eighth goal made him the top scorer.

2013–14 season

Costa executing an overhead kick against Almería, on 14 September 2013.

In August 2013, Costa was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, who allegedly matched his release clause of €25 million and offered him three times his salary at Atlético.[64] However, he chose to stay at the club and renewed his contract until 2018, while also doubling his wages;[65] a few days after this in the first match of the new season on 19 August, he scored a brace in a 3–1 win at Sevilla.[66]

On 24 September Costa netted both goals in a 2–1 home triumph over Osasuna, to help his team stay level on points with league leaders Barcelona through six games.[67] Four days later, in the Madrid derby, he scored the only goal of the game to record a second win over Real at the Santiago Bernabéu in under five months.[68] For his performances, he was crowned the inaugural La Liga Player of the Month for September 2013.[69] By his 25th birthday on 7 October, he had scored ten goals in eight league matches, equalling his tally from the previous season. All of those matches were won by Atlético, setting a new record for the best start to a season.[70] On 23 November 2013, Costa scored an overhead volley from a cross by Gabi in a win over Getafe; the goal was nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award.[71]

On 22 October 2013 Costa marked his UEFA Champions League début with two goals against FK Austria Wien, the first coming after a fine individual effort in an eventual 3–0 group stage away win.[72] On 19 February of the following year, in the first knockout round's first leg, he scored the game's only goal at Milan, netting seven minutes from time after a corner kick from Gabi;[73] he added a further two in the second match, helping to a 4–1 victory that put Atlético into the quarter-finals for the first time in 17 years.[74]

On 30 April 2014, Costa won and converted a penalty in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, as Atlético won 3–1 at Stamford Bridge and advanced to the final of the competition for the first time since 1974.[75] He finished the league season with 27 league goals to become the third highest scorer,[76] and the team won the title for the first time since 1996, but he was substituted after 16 minutes of the last match of the season against Barcelona due to a hamstring injury.[77] Atlético sought to cure this injury before the upcoming Champions League final against Real Madrid by sending him to Belgrade for treatment with a horse placenta,[78] and he was included in the starting line-up for the decisive match. However, he left the pitch after eight minutes in an eventual 1–4 loss;[79] manager Diego Simeone later admitted a personal mistake in selecting the player to start the final despite his recent injury.[80] Costa scored 8 goals during the Champions League campaign, equalling the record held by Vavá since 1959 for most in a season by an Atlético player, and in his entire career was in the top 10 Atlético players by goal average.[81] At the season's LFP Awards, he was nominated for the league's Best Forward, losing out to Cristiano Ronaldo.[82]

Chelsea

Having completed his medical in June,[83][84] Chelsea announced on 1 July 2014 that they had agreed to meet the £32 million buy-out clause in Costa's contract.[85][86][87] On 15 July, Chelsea confirmed the completion of the signing of Costa, who signed a five-year contract on a salary of £150,000 a week.[88][89] Costa said: "I am very happy to sign for Chelsea. Everybody knows it is a big club in a very competitive league, and I am very excited to get started in England with a fantastic coach and team-mates. Having played against Chelsea last season I know the high quality of the squad I am joining".[88] Following the departure of former Chelsea striker Demba Ba, Costa inherited his number 19 shirt,[90] the same number he wore at the 2014 World Cup for Spain and previously at Atlético.

2014–15 season

Costa scored on his Chelsea debut on 27 July, running onto a through ball from Cesc Fàbregas in a 2–1 friendly win against Slovene club Olimpija.[91] Costa then scored his second goal of pre-season in a 2–0 friendly win against Fenerbahçe on 8 August, described by the Daily Mail as a "wondergoal."[92] He ended his pre-season with two goals in his first match at Stamford Bridge, a 2–0 friendly win against Real Sociedad, on 12 August.[93]

His first competitive match was Chelsea's first game of the league season, away to Burnley on 18 August, scoring the team's equaliser in a 3–1 victory.[94] Costa also scored in his second league game, opening a 2–0 home win over Leicester City.[95] He scored in his third consecutive match on 30 August, netting the first and last goals of a 6–3 win at Everton, the first goal coming after 35 seconds.[96] Costa was given the Premier League Player of the Month award for August 2014.[97] He completed his first Premier League hat-trick in his fourth game of the season against Swansea City as Chelsea continued their perfect start to the season with a 4–2 win.[98] With seven, Costa holds the record for most goals in his first four Premier League matches, surpassing the tally of six by both Sergio Agüero and Micky Quinn.[99] In spite of his form at the start of the season, Costa had been suffering from a recurring hamstring problem which limited his participation in training; manager José Mourinho said that it would not heal until mid-November.[100]

Goalscorers Costa and John Terry celebrating Chelsea's victory in the 2015 Football League Cup Final.

Costa scored his tenth goal of the league season to give Chelsea a 2–1 win away to Liverpool on 8 November, preserving their unbeaten start to the campaign.[101] On 17 January 2015, he scored twice in the first half as Chelsea won 5–0 away at Swansea.[102] Later that month, Costa was charged by the FA in relation to a stamp on Emre Can during Chelsea's win over Liverpool in the League Cup semi-finals, and was given a three-match ban.[103] Costa won his first trophy for Chelsea on 1 March, as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 to win the League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. In the 56th minute, his shot was deflected in by Kyle Walker for the second goal of the game. Initially the goal was given as a Walker own goal,[104] but Costa was later awarded the goal.[105][106]

On 26 April, Costa was chosen of one of two forwards for the season's PFA Team of the Year, alongside Tottenham's Harry Kane. Five of Costa's Chelsea teammates were also in the selection.[107] Due to injury, he was due to miss the remainder of the season, in which Chelsea won the league title with a 1–0 home win over Crystal Palace on 3 May.[108] However, he featured in their last match of the season on the 24th, replacing the injured Didier Drogba after half an hour against Sunderland. Seven minutes later, he scored his 20th goal of the league campaign, an equalising penalty in an eventual 3–1 home win.[109]

With reports speculating that Costa wanting to leave Chelsea, Costa affirmed on 2 June 2015 after Chelsea's post-season tour that he had no desire to leave London, saying, "It's always a bit more difficult in the first season for adaptation, but I have no reason to leave this place, I love it, the fans love me, and I want to stay. It’s really good to come in the first season [to Chelsea] and win two things [the Premier League and the League Cup titles]. Next year I’ll be ready to come back and, hopefully, win a couple more trophies."[110]

2015–16 season

Due to injury, Costa missed the 2015 FA Community Shield, which Chelsea lost 1–0 to rivals Arsenal.[111] On 23 August, he scored his first goal of the campaign in a 2–3 win at West Bromwich Albion, which was Chelsea's first victory of the campaign, set up by international teammate Pedro.[112] He scored his first Champions League goal for the team on 16 September, a volley from a Cesc Fàbregas ball in a 4–0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.[113]

Costa in action at the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League group stage match against Dynamo Kyiv in October 2015

Three days later, Costa was involved in controversy in a 2–0 home win over Arsenal; he repeatedly slapped Laurent Koscielny and chest-bumped him to the ground, and then confronted Gabriel, who allegedly tried to kick him and was sent off, though footage from ESPN Brazil later showed that little to no contact actually took place.[114] He escaped any punishment at the time. His conduct was deemed "disgusting" by visiting manager Arsène Wenger,[115] and teammate Kurt Zouma initially reacted by saying "Diego likes to cheat a lot," but later clarified that he meant that "Diego is a player who puts pressure on his opponents."[8] As a consequence, on 21 September, he was charged with violent conduct by The Football Association (FA),[116] and the following day he was given a three-match suspension.[117] Gabriel's red card was also rescinded, although he was given a 1-match ban and £10,000 fine for improper conduct after failing to leave the pitch immediately. After this incident, the Daily Express wrote that Costa was "named as [the] Premier League's dirtiest player."[118]

Costa returned from the ban on 17 October, when he scored and forced an Alan Hutton own goal in a 2–0 home win over Aston Villa.[119] After a 1–0 defeat at Stoke City on 7 November, a Britannia Stadium steward made an allegation of assault against Costa, which was resolved without further action.[120] Also that month, Costa was again involved in a skirmish with Liverpool's Martin Škrtel, where he appeared to dig his boot into the Slovak defender's chest., but escaped punishment by the FA.[121] On 29 November, Costa was an unused substitute in a match against Tottenham and threw his bib on the floor when Ruben Loftus-Cheek was sent on at his expense. Mourinho told the media that "For me his behaviour is normal. A top player on the bench will not be happy".[122]

Costa, Oscar and Fàbregas were targeted by Chelsea supporters as the players whose poor form led to the dismissal of popular manager Mourinho in December 2015.[123] He scored twice in the first game under interim replacement Guus Hiddink, a 2–2 home draw against Watford.[123] Costa, who played in a protective mask after breaking his nose in training, improved his form under the Dutchman, scoring seven times in his first eight games under the new management.[124]

On 12 March 2016, Costa received his first red card in a Chelsea shirt near the end their 2–0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Everton for confronting opponent Gareth Barry. Footage appeared to show Costa biting Barry during that confrontation after clashing heads. Earlier in the match, Costa appeared to spit in the direction of the referee after he was yellow carded for a clash with Barry.[125][126] Later, both Costa and Barry denied that the bite occurred.[127] Costa's two-match ban was extended to three, and he was fined £20,000.[128] On 2 May, as Chelsea drew 2–2 against Tottenham to deny them the title, Costa was gouged in the eyes by Mousa Dembélé during a mass brawl; the Belgian received a retrospective six-match ban.[129]

2016–17 season

On 15 August 2016, Costa scored a late winner against West Ham United to give Chelsea a 2–1 win in their season opener.[130] Costa was once again involved in controversy as he caught West Ham goalkeeper Adrián with a late challenge when already on a yellow card, but he did not receive a second yellow and went on to score the winner.[131] In Chelsea's next match, away to Watford, Costa scored a winner once again in the final few minutes, giving his team another 2-1 victory.[132] Two goals against Swansea City FC at the Liberty Stadium and a consolation goal in a 2-1 home defeat against Liverpool left him with five goals from his first five league games.[133][134]

International career

Brazil

On 5 March 2013, Costa was called up by Brazilian national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari for friendlies with Italy in Geneva and Russia in London, both taking place late in that month.[135] He made his debut in the first match on 21 March, replacing Fred midway through the second half of the 2–2 draw.[136] Four days later at Stamford Bridge, he replaced Kaká for the last 12 minutes of a 1–1 draw with Russia.[137]

Request to change teams

In September 2013, the Royal Spanish Football Federation made an official request to FIFA for permission to call up Costa for the Spanish national team.[138] He had been granted Spanish nationality in July.[139] FIFA regulations currently permit players with more than one nationality to represent a second country if, like Costa, he had only represented his first country in friendly matches.[138]

On 29 October 2013, Costa declared that he wished to play international football for Spain, sending a letter to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).[140] Following the news, Scolari commented, "A Brazilian player who refuses to wear the shirt of the Brazilian national team and compete in a World Cup in your country is automatically withdrawn. He is turning his back on a dream of millions, to represent our national team, the five-time champions in a World Cup in Brazil."[141]

The CBF judicial director, Carlos Eugênio Lopes, said:

"It's obvious that the reason he made that choice was financial. The chairman (of the CBF, José Maria Marin) authorised me to open a legal action at the Justice Ministry requesting that he loses his Brazilian citizenship, which Diego Costa has rejected... The chairman told me that Costa has proved he's not fit to be part of the Scolari family, that he would contaminate the family because he's not committed to Brazil, but to Spain. He rejected his Brazilian citizenship. Marin has asked me to study the situation deeply in order to keep him from ever playing for Spain. He told me that, from now on, Costa is 'persona non grata' at the national team and that the players themselves wouldn't welcome him because of that episode".[142]

Spain

On 28 February 2014, Spain manager Vicente del Bosque included Costa in the squad for a friendly against Italy, but he was an unused substitute.[143] He finally made his début on 5 March, playing the full 90 minutes at his club ground the Vicente Calderón Stadium as the hosts won 1–0.[144]

Costa was named in Spain's 30-man provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup,[145] as well as the final list which was named on 31 May.[146] He returned from the injury which had ended his club season by starting in a warm-up game against El Salvador, winning a penalty in a 2–0 victory.[147] In the first match of the tournament, against the Netherlands, he again won a penalty, conceded by Stefan de Vrij and converted by Xabi Alonso for a 1–0 lead but in an eventual 1–5 defeat;[148] he was booed by Brazilian fans during the match, to which he reacted by saying "I have confirmed that Spain is my country and the Spanish people are behind me, the criticism of my decision does not affect me".[149] Costa then started in a 0–2 loss to Chile making little impact as he was substituted for Fernando Torres for the second consecutive match, and Spain were eliminated.[150] He was an unused substitute in the team's third match, a 3–0 defeat of Australia.[151]

Costa scored his first goal for Spain with the third in a 4–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying win away to Luxembourg on 12 October 2014.[152] He did not feature again for Spain until 5 September 2015, when he was fouled by Slovakia goalkeeper Matúš Kozáčik for a penalty, which Andrés Iniesta converted for a 2–0 qualifying win at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo. He was booed when he was substituted for Paco Alcácer later in the match.[153] Del Bosque defended Costa from criticism, saying that he performed well against the Slovak defence.[154] However, he was not included in the final squad for the tournament.[155]

Style of play

Costa in action for Atlético Madrid in 2013

Friends and family recalled how Costa's style of play changed little over time, with his father stating how as a child, Costa would be furious whenever his team lost.[156] Atlético scout Javier Hernández, on watching 17-year-old Costa play for Penafiel, was impressed by the young forward's determination and power, although found it evident that he was not observing a healthy lifestyle.[157] Costa's Penafiel manager Rui Bento, who was at Sporting CP when Cristiano Ronaldo broke into the team, rated Costa in the same calibre as the Portuguese winger.[157] According to Atlético Director Jesús García Pitarch, Costa ranks as one of the best signings of his career, alongside Mohamed Sissoko, Miranda and Ricardo Oliveira.[158]

While on loan at Celta, Costa drew comparisons to their former Egyptian striker Mido, who was also known for his temper.[159] During his spell at Albacete, Costa was nicknamed after bullfighter Curro Romero and the Tasmanian devil.[38] His manager Juan Ignacio Martínez conceded that Costa played as a model professional for 89 minutes per match, with only one minute per match being his downfall.[160] Costa refers to José Luis Mendilibar as his greatest manager because of his fatherlike "tough love," respecting his talents while keeping strict discipline, once sending Costa to work in a vineyard as a punishment.[161]

Earlier in his Atlético Madrid career, Costa's physical play was used in support of Radamel Falcao, thus ensuring a lower goalscoring rate. After Falcao was sold in 2013, the attack was restructured around Costa by manager Diego Simeone. Simeone, who like Costa was known for his competitiveness and aggression, found ways to enhance his discipline while retaining his determination.[99]

Ahead of his competitive debut for Chelsea in August 2014, BBC Sport pundit Robbie Savage described Costa as "the missing piece in the jigsaw" for the "clear favourites" who "could end up winning the title by five or six points." He explained that Chelsea's defence was already the strongest in the league, but a poorer rate of shot-to-goal conversion had cost them the title. He praised Costa's stature and physical style of play which "suits the Premier League down to the ground" in the same role that Didier Drogba previously played at Chelsea,[5] an opinion also voiced by the league's top scorer of all time, Alan Shearer.[162] Costa has also been attributed with a greater ability to keep possession of the ball than any Chelsea striker since Drogba first left the club in 2012.[6]

Controversies

Costa and Liverpool's Martin Škrtel have had several notable clashes.

Costa has been the source of much controversy in his career due to confrontations with opponents, and has received multiple violent conduct charges from the English Football Association.[7] Opposing managers have also opined that Costa himself intends to provoke his opponents.[9] Danny Murphy of Match of the Day has stated that Costa is targeted by players who "wind him up," but he "remains calm," and is justified to taunt opponents who taunt him.[163] Pat Nevin, a former Chelsea winger, believes that Costa's style of play is likely to cause himself "a few injuries."[162] In August 2014, he was criticised by Everton manager Roberto Martínez for taunting Everton's Séamus Coleman following his own goal, and stated Costa needed "to understand the ethics" of the Premier League.[9] In October 2014, he clashed with Slovakia's Martin Škrtel in a Euro 2016 qualifier.[164]

In January 2015, following two stamp incidents involving Costa and Liverpool players for which Costa received a three-match ban by the FA, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers stated that he thought Costa had fouled his players when "he could easily have hurdled over the player" and "there’s no need to do it."[165] Costa described his style of play as "strong but noble", and refuted allegations that he deliberately aims to injure opponents.[166]

In late 2015, Costa was the subject of scrutiny for his comparatively poor start to his second season at Chelsea and his low scoring rate for Spain.[154] Daily Mail writer Adam Shergold credited this to consistent injuries and transfer speculation, concluding that, "The whole perception of the 26-year-old has switched in a matter of months from appreciation at his deadly abilities in front of goal to derision at the fighting, profligacy and now diving that has crept into his game."[167] French newspaper L'Equipe named Costa as the most hated footballer in December 2015, based on his provocative and violent behaviour.[168]

Career statistics

Club

As of 16 September 2016[169]
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Penafiel 2006–07 Liga de Honra 13 5 1 0 — 14 5
Braga 2006–07 Primeira Liga 6 0 1 0 2[a] 1 9 1
Celta 2007–08 Segunda División 30 6 1 0 — 31 6
Albacete 2008–09 35 10 1 0 — 36 10
Valladolid 2009–10 La Liga 34 8 2 1 — 36 9
Atlético Madrid 2010–11 28 6 5 1 6[a] 1 39 8
Rayo Vallecano 2011–12 16 10 0 0 — 16 10
Atlético Madrid 2012–13 31 10 8 8 5[a] 2 44 20
2013–14 35 27 8[b] 1 9[c] 8 52 36
Total 94 43 21 10 20 11 135 64
Chelsea 2014–15 Premier League 26 20 4 1 7[c] 0 37 21
2015–16 28 12 5 2 8[c] 2 41 16
2016–17 5 5 0 0 — 5 5
Total 59 37 9 3 15 2 83 42
Career total 287 119 36 14 37 14 360 147
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Includes 2 appearances in Supercopa de España
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 5 September 2016[170]
Brazil
Year Apps Goals
2013 2 0
Total 2 0
Spain
Year Apps Goals
2014 7 1
2015 3 0
2016 2 2
Total 12 3

International goals

Scores and results show Spain's goal tally first.[170]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Final Competition
1. 12 October 2014 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 3–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
2. 5 September 2016 Estadio Reino de León, León, Spain  Liechtenstein 1–0 8–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3. 5–0

Honours

Chelsea supporters' banner in honour of Costa, November 2014

Club

Atlético Madrid
Chelsea

Individual

References

Specific
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