The loss of FC Porto legend is a sad day for football. Jorge Costa has died at the age of 53.
The tragic death of Jorge Costa, the legendary FC Porto captain, on Tuesday, August 5th, at the age of 53 has left Portuguese football in sadness. Costa, who had been the club’s Director of Football for most of his career, died of a heart attack at the team’s training field in Olival. He was taken to the hospital quickly, but they couldn’t rescue him.
Costa was a central defender for Porto who played 383 games. He was known for his fiery grit and natural ability to lead on the field. He is remembered in the club’s history for being the captain of the team that won the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the historic Champions League in 2004, both of which were under manager José Mourinho. During the 2001–02 season, he played for Charlton Athletic in the English Premier League for a short but memorable time. Fans and teammates called him “The Tank.”
Jorge Costa was a dedicated family man outside of soccer. His two sons, David Costa Almeida and Salvador Almeida, are still alive. His family hasn’t made a public statement yet, but tributes are coming in from all across the football world, showing how much he meant to people as a player and a person.
Football Community Pays Tribute
Faleceu Jorge Costa.
— +FC Porto (@maisFCPorto) August 5, 2025
Eterno símbolo do FC Porto. Com mais de 400 jogos com a camisola azul e branca, levantou troféus, liderou equipas e deixou a alma em campo pelo Nosso Grande Clube onde conquistou, como jogador:
🏆 1 UEFA Champions League
🏆 1 Taça UEFA
🏆 8 Campeonatos… pic.twitter.com/8U7wiUGdy9
FC Porto said in an emotional statement that they were “deeply saddened and shocked” by the death of a “inescapable figure” in the club’s history. The statement ended with, “You will never be forgotten, Captain,” and it said that all Porto fans would always remember him.
A Liga Portugal manifesta o seu profundo pesar pelo falecimento de Jorge Costa, histórico capitão do FC Porto e figura marcante do futebol nacional.
— Liga Portugal (@ligaportugal) August 5, 2025
Conhecido como o “Bicho” pela sua entrega, liderança e espírito combativo, Jorge Costa foi símbolo de uma geração e referência… pic.twitter.com/dL3Jt1ajeN
The loss was felt strongly by people outside of Porto’s following. Sporting Lisbon, a rival club, sent its sympathies and recognized Costa’s important role in both FC Porto and Portuguese football. Charlton Athletic also expressed their sadness, calling Costa “one of the best center-backs to play for the Addicks” even though he was only with the team for a short period.
🎙️ José Mourinho on the difference between a captain and a leader. 👏
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) October 10, 2022
Wait for the stray bullet at the end of the conversation..
Who do you think he's talking about? 🤔pic.twitter.com/tF7VUETw5h
His former coach, José Mourinho, gave perhaps the most moving tribute when he said, “Captain and leader are very different things.” You can’t purchase leaders… One of them was Jorge. This feeling exactly describes the man who donned the armband and was the spirit of his squad.