27 Facts About Rui Costa

Rui Costa succeeded Luis Filipe Vieira as president of the club's SAD board of directors.

Rui Costa usually played as an attacking midfielder and was particularly known for his excellent technique, playmaking ability, and eye for goal from midfield.

Rui Costa is regarded as one of the best midfielders in world football and one of Portugal's best players of all time.

At age five, Rui Costa joined the infant indoor football team of Damaia Ginasio Clube.

In 1991, after the Under-21 World Cup, which Portugal won after a penalty kick scored by Rui Costa, he returned to Benfica.

Rui Costa formed a formidable midfield partnership with Joao Vieira Pinto.

In so doing, Rui Costa became Milan's most expensive transfer of all time.

Rui Costa added further goals in wins over CSKA Sofia and Hapoel Tel Aviv in a run to the last four.

Rui Costa was hampered by injuries throughout the whole season, including a wrist injury on his debut, while his form was inconsistent.

Ahead of his second season at Milan, Rui Costa's faced competition from Brazilian new signing Rivaldo, but secured a starting place against him.

Rui Costa remained a first team choice under Jose Antonio Camacho and Fernando Chalana and his displays would earn him the SJPF Player of the Month award for September 2007 and Benfica's Player of the Year award for 2007.

Rui Costa played his final match on 11 May 2008 at the Estadio da Luz against Vitoria de Setubal.

Rui Costa was substituted in the 86th minute to a standing ovation from the spectators.

Rui Costa was part of the Portugal national under-20 team under manager Carlos Queiroz who won the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship on home soil.

Rui Costa was part of the squad at UEFA Euro 1996 in England, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by runners-up the Czech Republic.

Rui Costa was sent off for the only time in his entire career on 6 September 1997, in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier away to Germany.

Rui Costa said on the 20th anniversary of the controversy that he would only forgive Batta if he apologised to the Portuguese nation.

In UEFA Euro 2000 qualification, Rui Costa scored six times in home and away victories over Liechtenstein and Hungary.

Rui Costa retired from international football after the unexpected defeat to the Greeks again in the Euro 2004 final.

Rui Costa scored 26 goals in 94 games, making him ninth-highest capped player and seventh-highest goalscorer.

Rui Costa is considered by pundits to have been one of the greatest midfielders both of his generation, as well as one of Portugal's best players ever, and was regarded as one of the best playmakers in the world in his prime.

Rui Costa was an accurate free kick and penalty taker.

Rui Costa was sponsored by American sportswear company Nike and appeared in Nike commercials.

The day after his last professional match, Rui Costa was presented as director of football at Benfica.

On 14 May 2008, Rui Costa was appointed an administrator of Benfica SAD.

Back in January 2022, Rui Costa had said that his signature on player contracts under investigation by authorities in Cartao Vermelho did not imply he was in collusion with anyone.

Rui Costa was married to Rute from 1994 to 2013, and fathered two sons.