Dani Figueira: “I saw Diogo Costa and thought: ‘He’ll reach the very top’” | OneFootball

The market took Dani Figueira away from Portugal. After standing out for Gil Vicente last season, the goalkeeper is now playing in Armenia, where he represents Noah. The team leads the league and has already gone four matches without conceding this season. A record he shares with Diogo Costa, with whom he has been both teammate and opponent.

“We spent time together in the youth national teams. We even went to a U-19 European Championship,” recalled Dani Figueira during his appearance on the latest episode of “Sem Filtros”, Liga TV’s videocast. The goalkeeper also came up against Diogo Costa again in several clashes in Portugal. “Since he was with FC Porto, I lost several times,” he lamented, laughing.

“At the end of the matches, there was always a hug, words of support and a shirt swap. I think I probably have more of his shirts at home than my own,” joked the 28-year-old from Vizela, before leaving no room for doubt: “He’s the goalkeeper I admire most today. He’s on the level of the best in the world.”

“Consistency is what separates a good goalkeeper from a great one. He doesn’t always have to make a spectacular save, but he’s the one who is there at the right moment. He is all of that. And it wasn’t by chance that he was the national team’s best player at the last World Cup,” he noted, not at all surprised by the dragon’s career.

After all… “I’m a year older, but I always saw him as a role model because of the way he carried himself, the responsibility he took on. Even back then I thought: ‘This guy is going to reach the top of world football.’ Any team would love to have Diogo Costa,” said Dani Figueira, who is also looking to establish himself in this new stage of his career.

“The Armenian league is growing, and Noah has had a lot of responsibility in that development. Their facilities are exceptional — I thought it was AI when I saw them on social media — I don’t know if any club in Portugal has better ones. Given the conditions they provide us, and because it’s the best club in Armenia, we feel the responsibility to win the title.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.