Vítor Baía: Diogo Costa in world’s top 3, praises Martínez | OneFootball

Vítor Baía once again praised the talent of Diogo Costa. In an interview with the Spanish daily AS, the veteran goalkeeper and former FC Porto official, with 567 matches for the Dragons, did not hesitate to place the Portuguese international among the world elite in his position.

“He has something special, he is fantastic. He is in the top 3 best goalkeepers in the world. I find it hard to understand how he is not yet in a team from the major leagues. At FC Porto, he will always be great, but I see him in one of the 'big five'”, he stated, highlighting the player's completeness: reliable in leaving the goal, competent with footwork, effective in one-on-one situations, and excellent in penalty kicks. “He is the best at the moment,” he summarized.

Baía also praised Roberto Martínez's work leading the National Team, noting the Spanish coach's quick integration. “He adapted very well, was intelligent, learned Portuguese, and integrated into our culture. We feel him as one of ours,” he said, also considering that Portugal is experiencing “one of the best generations” in its history, thanks to the trophies won since Euro 2016.

Cristiano Ronaldo also deserved words of admiration, especially for his declared ambition to reach 1,000 goals. “He is incredible, a machine. An example for everyone, for children who want to be footballers. For the way he works and how he developed his potential,” he highlighted.

Recalling his time at Barcelona, Baía did not hesitate to name Ronaldo Fenómeno as the best teammate he had. “He was a beast. Fast, strong, physically tremendous, and technically superior. It was a shame he didn't stay longer at Barcelona, maybe he could have avoided some physical problems,” he mentioned, also recalling the experience with players like Figo and Rivaldo.

Regarding the current Barcelona, the former Portuguese international highlighted Lamine Yamal as the great talent to watch. “He has everything to be the best in the world. But he still needs to win a major competition. When you win collectively, you get closer to individual awards. He must keep his feet on the ground,” he warned.

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