FC Porto legend Jorge Costa has died after suffering cardiac arrest on Tuesday. He was 53 years old.
Costa played the majority of his professional career with the Portuguese side, making 251 appearances between 1990-2005. He served as club captain and won 24 trophies, including eight league titles and the 2003 UEFA Cup and 2004 Champions League.
The defender also made 50 appearances for Portugal’s senior team and represented his country at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup.
Jorge Costa deixou-nos. Um de nós, um líder, capitão, exemplo. Um símbolo do FC Porto.
Obrigado por seres FC Porto até ao fim.
Até sempre, Jorge Costa. pic.twitter.com/XTmW5WVEHj
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) August 5, 2025
Costa played for four other clubs — Penafiel, Maritimo, Charlton Athletic and Standard Liège — during his playing career. He would then move into management, guiding teams such as Braga, AEL Limassol and AVS, among many others.
After his time at AVS ended last year, Costa returned to FC Porto to serve as the club’s director of football.
In a statement, FC Porto said it “expresses its deepest sadness and consternation at the passing of an inescapable figure in the club’s history” and that “Jorge Costa’s legacy will forever live on in the memory of all Porto fans. You will never be forgotten, Captain.”
