Diogo Costa turns quiet hero and FC Porto eye million-pound windfall | OneFootball

Diogo Costa once again played a decisive role for the Portugal national team at the 2026 World Cup. After keeping a clean sheet against Colombia in the closing match of Group K — a game in which he picked up the man of the match award — the Portuguese goalkeeper was not recognized in the 2-1 win over Croatia in the round of 32 in the early hours of Friday, but he was once again one of the main pillars of the team.

Against Colombia, Diogo Costa was forced into action six times, two of them from inside the box, ending the match as the best player on the pitch. The same scenario played out against Croatia, despite the goal conceded, scored by Ivan Perisic (53'), as he made five saves, four of them of a very high level.

Two of those interventions came at the moments when Portugal needed them most and while the match was tied at 1-1. Diogo Costa denied two shots from Kovacic (48' and 75'), at a stage when Croatia were getting closer and closer to the Portuguese goal. In the 76th minute, he was once again in the spotlight by stopping a shot from Matanovic.

Although Roberto Martínez’s side secured the win thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos, the solidity of Diogo Costa before Portugal’s two goals, at a time when Croatia looked more dangerous, ended up being decisive to the Portuguese success. The goalkeeper did not receive the man of the match award, which went to the Portuguese captain, but he had a very significant influence on the final result.

FC Porto protected, but alert to a possible windfall

Diogo Costa was already one of the FC Porto squad members attracting the most interest from Europe’s top clubs, but these increasingly impressive displays at the World Cup, and the rise in value resulting from them, are increasing the appetite of the ‘big sharks’.

Considered one of the best in the world in his position, the 26-year-old goalkeeper renewed his contract with the reigning Portuguese champions last December 2025, extending his link with the club from the Invicta city until June 2030, but that will hardly be an obstacle for teams with greater financial power.

Diogo Costa's release clause is set at 60 million euros. It is a figure that, although not excessively high, can easily be reached by potential suitors, who have appeared summer after summer. Even so, the goalkeeper has remained in Invicta, becoming an undisputed choice for every FC Porto coach.

In recent months, Paris Saint-Germain, the two-time European champions, have been among the clubs following the Portuguese international most closely, not forgetting that Manchester United and Manchester City have also entered the race for the goalkeeper.

It is certain that André Villas-Boas will want to keep Diogo Costa at the Dragão for another season, but the goalkeeper’s continued rise in value at the World Cup could ruin those plans. Meanwhile, FC Porto have already begun preparing for a possible succession to the number 99 shirt, with the signing of young prospect João Afonso from Santa Clara.

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