Logan Costa’s unusual World Cup journey | OneFootball

Logan Costa was tipped to be Cabo Verde’s World Cup standard-bearer, yet he mostly watched as others seized the spotlight. El Periódico Mediterráneo notes that the Villarreal centre-back’s tournament did not unfold as he had imagined.

Cabo Verde lost 3-2 to reigning champions Argentina after extra time. Lionel Messi opened the scoring, Deroy Duarte equalised, Lisandro Martínez put Argentina back ahead, Sidny Lopes Cabral made it 2-2, then Diney Borges turned into his own net after a Cristian Romero header.

The debutants went out, but their fearless showing earned wide applause. The focus fell on Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper turned tournament icon, and on Sidny, the Benfica full-back who struck the extra-time equaliser. Costa slipped into the background.

His club season was compromised at the outset. On 19 July 2025, in Villarreal’s first pre-season friendly against Basel, he suffered a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, halting a defender who had been consolidating his place.

Months of work followed with a single emotional target, to reach Cabo Verde’s first World Cup. He rejoined training partially in February, made the May squad as a bet on recovery, and for Villarreal managed two league games totalling 28 minutes.

His tournament presence was more symbolic than competitive. Valued at 15 million euros by Transfermarkt, Cabo Verde’s top-rated player travelled with the group, but was not yet ready to reclaim his usual status. Now the real match starts, to regain continuity and turn frustration into impetus.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo