Ribeiro Costa Joins Spanish Second Side

Spanish second-division club Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa has announced the arrival of star attacker Lucas Ribeiro Costa from Mamelodi Sundowns.

Costa, who was the standout player for Sundowns last season, winning both the PSL Top Goalscorer and PSL Footballer of the Season awards, pushed for the move.

The Brazilian accused Sundowns of blocking potential transfers after his impressive performance at the Club World Cup. He went as far as claiming he had terminated his contract and asked for FIFA’s intervention to secure his release. This past Tuesday, Costa released a statement thanking Sundowns, where he spent two seasons after joining at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Costa grabbed global attention in June with a spectacular solo goal against Borussia Dortmund at the Club World Cup. He started his run from the center circle, using sheer power and speed to get past multiple defenders before scoring. That goal was named the Goal of the Tournament.

Official Club Statement and Career Highlights

“Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa has reached an agreement with Lucas Ribeiro for the incorporation of the player into the culturalist discipline,” the club’s official statement read.

“Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Saint Helena, 09/10/1998) is an attacking footballer who has developed his career in countries such as Brazil, France, and Belgium. In his last stage, he played for the South African club Mamelodi Sundowns FC. He arrives in León as a free agent on a one-season deal. From Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa, we welcome Lucas Ribeiro to our club, wishing him the greatest success in his new stage in León.”

Costa’s departure has not yet been confirmed by Sundowns. During his time with the club, he won two league titles and the African Football League, scoring 37 goals and providing 23 assists in 88 matches across all competitions.