View source for Rui Costa

{{Short description|Portuguese footballer (born 1972)}}
{{about|the Portuguese international footballer|other people}}
{{Portuguese name|César|Costa}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Rui Costa
| image               = Rui Costa 2019.png
| caption             = Costa in 2019
| order               = 34th
| office              = President of Benfica
| term_start          = 10 October 2021
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Luís Filipe Vieira]]
| successor           = 
| birth_name          = Rui Manuel César Costa
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1972|3|29}}
| birth_place         = [[Amadora]], Portugal
| nationality         = Portuguese
| height              = 1.80 m<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slbenfica.pt/English/players.asp?lg=eng&idEpoca=347&idCompeticao=34&idJogador=11566|title=Rui Costa|publisher=S.L. Benfica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624202007/http://www.slbenfica.pt/English/players.asp?lg=eng&idEpoca=347&idCompeticao=34&idJogador=11566|archive-date=24 June 2007}}</ref>
| occupation          = [[Association football|Footballer]]
| module              = {{Infobox football biography
| embed          = yes
| header-color   = lavender
| position       = [[Attacking midfielder]]
| youthyears1    = 1977–1990
| youthclubs1    = [[S.L. Benfica (youth)|Benfica]]
| years1         = 1990–1994
| clubs1         = [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]
| caps1          = 78
| goals1         = 13
| years2         = 1990–1991
| clubs2         = → [[A.D. Fafe|Fafe]] (loan)
| caps2          = 38
| goals2         = 6
| years3         = 1994–2001
| clubs3         = [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]]
| caps3          = 215
| goals3         = 38
| years4         = 2001–2006
| clubs4         = [[AC Milan]]
| caps4          = 124
| goals4         = 4
| years5         = 2006–2008
| clubs5         = [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]
| caps5          = 43
| goals5         = 5
| totalcaps      = 498
| totalgoals     = 66
| nationalyears1 = 1990
| nationalteam1  = [[Portugal national under-18 football team|Portugal U18]]
| nationalcaps1  = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1991
| nationalteam2  = [[Portugal national under-20 football team|Portugal U20]]
| nationalcaps2  = 11
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 1992–1994
| nationalteam3  = [[Portugal national under-21 football team|Portugal U21]]
| nationalcaps3  = 19
| nationalgoals3 = 7
| nationalyears4 = 1993–2004
| nationalteam4  = [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
| nationalcaps4  = 94
| nationalgoals4 = 26
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[association football|football]]}}
{{medal|Country|{{fb|POR}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[UEFA European Championship]]|}}
{{Medal|Runner-up|[[UEFA Euro 2004|2004 Portugal]]|}}
{{Medal|B|[[UEFA Euro 2000|2000 Belgium-Netherlands]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA U-20 World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1991 FIFA World Youth Championship|1991 Portugal]]|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[UEFA European Under-21 Championship]]|}}
{{Medal|Runner-up|[[1994 UEFA European Under-21 Championship|1994 France]]|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[UEFA European Under-18 Championship]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1990 UEFA European Under-18 Championship|1990 Hungary]]|}}
}}
}}

'''Rui Manuel César Costa''' {{post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Prince Henry|OIH]]}} ({{IPA|pt|ʁuj ˈkɔʃtɐ}}; born 29 March 1972) is a Portuguese former professional [[association football|footballer]] who is the [[List of S.L. Benfica presidents|34th president]] of sports club [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsf.pt/desporto/rui-costa-eleito-o-34-presidente-do-benfica-com-8448-dos-votos-14204094.html|title=Rui Costa eleito o 34.º presidente do Benfica com 84,48% dos votos|date=10 October 2021|website=TSF Rádio Notícias}}</ref> 

He also succeeded [[Luís Filipe Vieira]] as president of the club's [[Sociedade Anónima Desportiva|SAD]] board of directors. Under his leadership Benfica glorious tradition is at stake, as the club constantly fails to win.

Costa spent the majority of his football career with Benfica in Portugal and [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] and [[AC Milan]] in Italy. In a top-flight career spanning 17 years, he won several trophies, including one [[Primeira Liga]] title, one [[Taça de Portugal]], one [[Serie A]] title, three [[Coppa Italia]], one [[UEFA Champions League]] and one [[UEFA Super Cup]]. A [[Portugal national football team|Portuguese international]], he amassed 94 caps and scored 26 goals for ''A Seleção'' and represented the country in three [[UEFA European Championship]]s and one [[FIFA World Cup]].

Costa usually played as an [[attacking midfielder]] and was particularly known for his excellent technique, [[Playmaker|playmaking]] ability, and eye for goal from midfield. He is regarded as one of the best midfielders in world football and one of Portugal's best players of all time.<ref name="Best Portuguese Players">{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416131455/https://sportmob.com/en/article/947436-Best-Portuguese-Players-of-All-Time|url=https://sportmob.com/en/article/947436-Best-Portuguese-Players-of-All-Time | archive-date=16 April 2021|title=SportMob – Best Portuguese Players of All Time | date=25 March 2021|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Rui Costa Euro 2000">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/portugal/squad/744792.stm|title=Euro 2000 Profile – Manuel Rui Costa|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="maestro">{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/championsleague/?action=read&idnet=dHV0dG9jaGFtcGlvbnMuaXQtMzQ0MDA|title=Rui Costa, il Maestro che ha incantato in Italia|website=tuttomercatoweb.com|language=it|last=Siciliano|first=Vincenzo|date=12 November 2016|access-date=27 May 2019}}</ref> In 2004, he was named by [[Pelé]] in the [[FIFA 100]] as one of the 125 greatest living football players.<ref name="Pele" />

== Club career ==

=== Benfica ===
At age five, Costa joined the infant indoor football team of Damaia Ginásio Clube. Costa tried his luck at [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]. Within ten minutes of training, Portugal legend [[Eusébio]], who was supervising the youngsters, was impressed with Costa's skills.{{cn|date=June 2025}} Up until 1990, Costa played for Benfica's youth squads. In his first full season, he was loaned to [[A.D. Fafe|Fafe]] on a season-long deal.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

In 1991, after the Under-21 World Cup, which Portugal won after a penalty kick scored by Costa, he returned to Benfica. In his first full season with Benfica, he was featured regularly in Benfica's team. In his next two seasons, his role in the team would prove to be pivotal as Benfica captured two trophies. He formed a formidable midfield partnership with [[João Vieira Pinto]]. During his last two seasons with Benfica in his first spell with the club, he won the [[Taça de Portugal]] in [[1992–93 Taça de Portugal|1993]] and the [[Primeira Liga|Portuguese First Division]] title in [[1993–94 Primeira Divisão|1993–94]].{{citation needed|date=July 2025}} This would be Benfica's last league title for the next ten seasons.

=== Fiorentina ===
At the end of his third season in Benfica's senior squad, [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] offered {{citation needed span|text=1,200&nbsp;million ''[[Portuguese escudo|escudos]]'' (approximately €6 million)|date=October 2016}} for the 21-year-old midfielder.

His departure from Fiorentina was discussed every season, since many clubs constantly showed interest in signing him. However, he only left Fiorentina one season before their bankruptcy in [[2001–02 Serie A|the 2001–02 season]]. With the [[Florence|Florentine]] club, Costa won the [[Coppa Italia]] twice, also winning a [[Supercoppa Italiana]]. In June 2001, Fiorentina agreed to sell both Costa and [[Francesco Toldo]] to [[Parma AC|Parma]] for 140&nbsp;billion lire.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calciomercato/passaggi/passaggi/passaggi.html|title=Toldo e Rui Costa al Parma Buffon a un passo dalla Juve|date=29 June 2001|access-date=4 August 2017|work=La Repubblica|language=it}}</ref> Despite both players' refusal to join, Costa and Toldo were sold to AC Milan and Inter Milan, respectively, for the same total transfer fee.

=== AC Milan ===
[[Fatih Terim]] was the coach of Fiorentina in the [[2000–01 ACF Fiorentina season|2000–01 season]]. When he was leaving Fiorentina for [[AC Milan]], he took Costa with him,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/1421321.stm|title=Milan snap up £30m Rui Costa|date=3 July 2001|access-date=31 March 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> [[List of most expensive association football transfers|paying 85&nbsp;billion lire (€43,898,836)]] for the player.<ref>A.C. Fiorentina S.p.A. ''bilancio'' (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2001 (in Italian), [http://www.registroimprese.it PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/cmercato/200107/03/3b41e8f804c82/|title=Rui Costa in rossonero|date=3 July 2001|access-date=4 August 2017|work=RAI Sport|language=it|archive-date=8 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108051620/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/cmercato/200107/03/3b41e8f804c82/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In so doing, Costa became Milan's most expensive transfer of all time.

On 27 September 2001, Costa scored his first goal for Milan to open a 4–0 home win (6–0 aggregate) in the first round of the [[UEFA Cup]] against [[BATE Borisov]].<ref>{{cite news |title=L'altro Milan strapazza il Bate Borisov (4–0)|trans-title=The other Milan destroy BATE Borisov (4–0) |url=https://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio_coppe/milanbate/milanbate/milanbate.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=La Repubblica |date=27 September 2001 |language=Italian}}</ref> He added further goals in wins over [[CSKA Sofia]] (second round)<ref>{{cite news |title=Milan, facile vittoria con un debolissimo Cska|trans-title=Milan, easy victory against a very weak CSKA |url=https://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio_coppe/milancska/milancska/milancska.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=La Repubblica |date=18 October 2001 |language=Italian}}</ref> and [[Hapoel Tel Aviv]] (quarter-finals)<ref>{{cite news |title=Hapoel dream ends |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/uefa_cup/1884129.stm |access-date=23 June 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 March 2002}}</ref> in a run to the last four. He was hampered by injuries throughout the whole season, including a wrist injury on his debut, while his form was inconsistent.<ref name=guardian>{{cite news |last1=Lawrence |first1=Amy |title=Real challenge for Rui Costa is to beat Spanish at their own game |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/nov/17/championsleague.sport6 |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=17 November 2002}}</ref> Playing away at Fiorentina, he greeted his former club's fans in tears, which led to an angry reaction when he returned to Milan.<ref name=guardian/>

Ahead of his second season at Milan, Costa faced competition from Brazilian new signing [[Rivaldo]], but secured a starting place against him.<ref name=guardian/> On 24 September 2002, he assisted three goals in a 4–0 Champions League group win at [[Deportivo de La Coruña]], leading a television commentator to call him three times better than [[Zinedine Zidane]].<ref name=guardian/> He scored his first domestic goal on 18 December, equalising in a 5–1 win (6–2 aggregate) against [[AC Ancona|Ancona]] at the [[San Siro]] in the second leg of the last 16 of the [[Coppa Italia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=L'Ancona spaventa il Milan poi Ã¨ [''sic''] valanga rossonera|trans-title=Ancona scare Milan then ''Rossonera'' avalanche|url=https://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio2002_serie_a/milancona/milancona/milancona.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=La Repubblica |date=18 December 2002 |language=Italian}}</ref> In the [[2003 Coppa Italia final|6–3 aggregate final win]] over [[AS Roma|Roma]] in May, he played only 30 minutes as a substitute as Brazilians [[Rivaldo]] and [[Serginho (footballer, born 1971)|Serginho]] were preferred in attacking midfield.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crollo della Roma, il Milan mette le mani sulla Coppa Italia|trans-title=Roma collapse, Milan get their hands on the Coppa Italia |url=https://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio2002_serie_a/finaitalia/finaitalia/finaitalia.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=La Repubblica |date=20 May 2003 |language=Italian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Al Milan anche la Coppa Italia|trans-title=Coppa Italia for Milan as well |url=https://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio2002_serie_a/milancop/milancop/milancop.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=La Repubblica |date=31 May 2003 |language=Italian}}</ref> This was to rest him for the [[2003 UEFA Champions League final]] against [[Juventus]], in which he was substituted injured for [[Massimo Ambrosini]] near the end of regulation time in a goalless draw that the ''Rossoneri'' won on penalties at [[Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Glendenning |first1=Barry |title=AC Milan 0 – 0 Juventus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/28/minutebyminute.sport |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=28 May 2003}}</ref> On 29 August, he played in the 1–0 victory over [[FC Porto|Porto]] in the [[2003 UEFA Super Cup]], in which he crossed for the only goal by [[Andriy Shevchenko]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Milan win Super Cup |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/3188369.stm |access-date=23 June 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2003}}</ref>

From [[2003–04 AC Milan season|2003–04]], Costa's playing time was limited by the emergent Brazilian youngster [[Kaká]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Whittle |first1=Richard |title=Milan go cuckoo for Kaka |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0eaad48f5b85-db414025ef13-1000--milan-go-cuckoo-for-kaka/ |access-date=23 June 2022 |publisher=UEFA |date=22 October 2003}}</ref> He contributed his first three league goals to [[2003–04 Serie A|Milan's title-winning campaign]], starting with one in a 5–0 home win over Ancona on 25 January.<ref>{{cite news |title=Il Milan travolge l'Ancona e sente aria di primato|trans-title=Milan overwhelm Ancona and feel an air of primacy|url=https://www.repubblica.it/2004/a/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata18/milanancona/milanancona.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=La Repubblica |date=25 January 2004 |language=Italian}}</ref>

=== Return to Benfica ===
[[File:Rui Costa.jpg|right|thumb|Costa with [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] in 2007]]

On 25 May 2006, Costa's return to Benfica in the [[2006–07 S.L. Benfica season|upcoming season]] was announced in a press conference.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rui Costa assina hoje|trans-title=Rui Costa signs today|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=270871|newspaper=Record|access-date=22 December 2012|date=25 May 2006|language=pt}}</ref> He had been released from Milan, after both the player and the club reached an agreement to end his €4.6&nbsp;million per year contract, in order to fulfill his long-held dream of returning to Benfica.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.milanmania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19329|title=Stats: Salaries in Serie A |work=AC Milan Forums}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rui Costa abdica de 700 mil contos/ano|trans-title=Rui Costa abdicates 700 thousand contos per year|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=271142|newspaper=Record|access-date=22 December 2012|date=27 May 2006|language=pt}}</ref> Costa started on his return in a [[2006–07 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds#Third qualifying round|2006–07 UEFA Champions League qualifier]] against [[FK Austria Wien|Austria Wien]] in August 2006,{{citation needed|date=July 2025}} and the second leg saw Costa score in his home return. Despite Costa being used as a regular under manager [[Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer)|Fernando Santos]] when available, the season was impaired with injuries: he suffered a muscle tear in October, which kept him out of action for three months,<ref>{{cite web|title=Departamento médico confirma paragem de Rui Costa|trans-title=Medical Department doctor confirms Rui Costa's stop|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=284623|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416133626/http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=284623|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2013|newspaper=Record|access-date=22 December 2012|date=3 October 2006|language=pt}}</ref> and another muscular injury in February.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nova lesão muscular pode afastar Rui Costa por um mês|trans-title=New muscle injury could sideline Rui Costa for a month|url=https://www.dn.pt/arquivo/2007/nova-lesao-muscular-pode-afastar-rui-costa-por-um-mes-653164.html|website=Diário de Notícias|access-date=10 March 2023|date=21 February 2007}}</ref>

Prior to the end of the season, Costa announced the [[2007–08 S.L. Benfica season|following one]] would be his last as a professional.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rui Costa: "Próxima época é a última"|trans-title=Rui Costa: «The next season will be the last»|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/benfica/detalhe/rui-costa-proxima-epoca-e-a-ultima|newspaper=Record|access-date=10 March 2023|date=28 May 2007|language=pt}}</ref> After assuring the qualification to the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League group stage#Group D|Champions League group stage]], which included a brace from Costa against [[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]],{{citation needed|date=July 2025}} Benfica was drawn against Costa's former club Milan.;<ref>{{cite web|title=Holders begin with Benfica|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01c5-0e6e83f51bdb-a3a70bc8642a-1000--holders-begin-with-benfica|website=UEFA|date=14 September 2007|access-date=10 March 2023|language=pt}}</ref> he returned to play one last time at the San Siro on 18 September 2007. Costa remained a first-team choice under [[José Antonio Camacho]] and [[Fernando Chalana]], and his displays would earn him the [[SJPF Player of the Month]] award for September 2007 and [[List of S.L. Benfica records and statistics#Cosme Damião Award|Benfica's Player of the Year]] award for 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rui Costa futebolista do ano|trans-title=Rui Costa footballer of the year|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/benfica/detalhe/rui-costa-futebolista-do-ano|newspaper=Record|access-date=12 March 2023|date=29 February 2008|language=pt}}</ref> Costa played his final match on 11 May 2008 at the [[Estádio da Luz]] against [[Vitória F.C.|Vitória de Setúbal]]. He was substituted in the 86th minute to a standing ovation from the spectators.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}} The season, as well as the previous one, ended trophyless.

== International career ==
===Youth and Euro 96===
Costa was part of the [[Portugal national under-20 football team|Portugal national under-20 team]] under manager [[Carlos Queiroz]], who won the [[1991 FIFA World Youth Championship]] on home soil. After a goalless draw with [[Brazil national under-20 football team|Brazil]] in the final at his club ground of the [[Estádio da Luz]], he scored the winning penalty in the final.<ref>{{cite news |title=Geracao de Ouro: Birth of Portugal's golden generation of footballers |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/geracao-de-ouro-birth-of-portugals-golden-generation-of-footballers |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=FIFA |date=16 April 2023}}</ref>

On 31 March 1993, Costa made his debut for the [[Portugal national football team|senior national team]] in a 1–1 draw away to [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]], in [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualification]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rui Costa: "É um sonho poder voltar ao Benfica" |trans-title=Rui Costa: "It's a dream to be able to return to Benfica"|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/benfica/detalhe/rui-costa-e-um-sonho-poder-voltar-ao-benfica |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=Record |date=24 January 2003 |language=Portuguese}}</ref> In his third game on 19 June in another qualifier at home to [[Malta national football team|Malta]], he scored his first goal in a 4–0 win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rui Costa: O tesouro do cofre-forte virou património mundial|trans-title=Rui Costa: The treasure from the vault who became world heritage |url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/competicoes-de-selecoes/detalhe/rui-costa-o-tesouro-do-cofre-forte-virou-patrimonio-mundial |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=Record |date=3 October 2001 |language=Portuguese}}</ref> He was part of the squad at [[UEFA Euro 1996]] in England, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by runners-up the [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Czechs bid for '96 revival in Portugal reunion |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7e1ea1d3f9-13ca61faa867-1000--czechs-bid-for-96-revival-in-portugal-reunion/ |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=UEFA |date=19 June 2012}}</ref>

===Euro 2000===
Costa was sent off for the only time in his entire career on 6 September 1997,<ref>{{cite news |title=Há 20 anos, Rui Costa era expulso pela primeira (e única) vez|trans-title=20 years ago, Rui Costa was sent off for the first (and only) time |url=https://sicnoticias.pt/desporto/2017-09-06-Ha-20-anos-Rui-Costa-era-expulso-pela-primeira--e-unica--vez |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=SIC Notícias |date=6 September 2017 |language=Portuguese}}</ref> in a [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualifier]] away to [[Germany national football team|Germany]]. While being substituted, he was shown a [[Penalty card|red card]] by referee [[Marc Batta]] for leaving the pitch too slowly, meaning that Portugal could not bring [[Sérgio Conceição]] on as a replacement. Minutes after the dismissal, the Germans equalised through [[Ulf Kirsten]], meaning that they and not the Portuguese would go to the final tournament in France.<ref>{{cite news |title=Foi há 25 anos que Marc Batta levou Rui Costa às lágrimas e deixou Portugal fora do Mundial|trans-title=It was on this day 25 years ago that Marc Batta left Rui Costa in tears and left Portugal out of the World Cup |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/selecoes/detalhe/foi-ha-25-anos-que-marc-batta-levou-rui-costa-as-lagrimas-e-deixou-portugal-fora-do-mundial |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=Record |date=6 September 2022 |language=Portuguese}}</ref> Costa said on the 20th anniversary of the controversy that he would only forgive Batta if he apologised to the Portuguese nation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rui Costa sobre Batta: "Desculpo-o quando pedir desculpa ao meu País"|trans-title=Rui Costa on Batta: "I will forgive him when he apologises to my country |url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/efemeride/marc-batta/rui-costa-sobre-batta-desculpo-o-quando-pedir-desculpa-ao-meu-pais |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=Mais Futebol |date=6 September 2017 |language=Portuguese}}</ref>

In [[UEFA Euro 2000]] [[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying|qualification]], Costa scored six times in home and away victories over [[Liechtenstein national football team|Liechtenstein]] (two each) and [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodrigues |first1=Berta |title=Uma história de goleadas e um escândalo: "Passámos a noite a festejar num bar. Aliás, em vários bares"|trans-title=A history of thrashings and a scandal: "We spent the night partying in a bar. Or more like, in several bars"|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/historia-de-um-jogo/liechtenstein/uma-historia-de-goleadas-e-um-escandalo-passamos-a-noite-a-festejar-num-bar-alias-em-varios-bares |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=Mais Futebol |date=23 March 2023 |language=Portuguese}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Selecção e o velho hábito de ser feliz com a Hungria |url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/seleccao-e-o-velho-habito-de-ser-feliz-com-a-hungria |access-date=1 November 2023|trans-title=National team and the old habit of being happy with Hungary |publisher=Mais Futebol |date=8 September 2009 |language=Portuguese}}</ref> At the finals in Belgium and the Netherlands, he assisted the last two goals by [[João Pinto]] and [[Nuno Gomes]] in a 3–2 comeback win over [[England national football team|England]] in a run to the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite news |title=England floored by thrilling Portugal comeback in EURO 2000 Group A |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7b302dbc26-b74bf2c5efda-1000--england-floored-by-thrilling-portugal-comeback-in-euro-20/ |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=UEFA |date=6 October 2003}}</ref>

===2002 World Cup and Euro 2004===
Portugal was eliminated at the group stage in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] in Japan and South Korea. Costa was dropped for Pinto after a shock 3–2 opening loss to the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]], but came on as a substitute in the next game and finished [[Capucho (footballer)|Capucho]]'s cross to conclude a 4–0 win over [[Poland national football team|Poland]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Portugal back on track |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/matches_wallchart/portugal_v_poland/default.stm |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2002}}</ref>

Before [[UEFA Euro 2004]] on home soil, Costa and [[Luís Figo]] criticised the decision of manager [[Luiz Felipe Scolari]] to select his Brazilian compatriot [[Deco]] – a player in Costa's same position.<ref>{{cite news |title=Deco wins Rui Costa seal of approval |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-30151833.html |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=Irish Examiner |date=11 June 2004}}</ref> After being substituted at half time in another shock opening loss, this time to [[Greece national football team|Greece]], Costa was dropped for Deco in the next match against [[Russia national football team|Russia]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelso |first1=Paul |title=Scolari to put faith in Deco ahead of Costa |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jun/16/euro2004.sport8 |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=16 June 2004}}</ref> He came off the bench in that game and finished a [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] cross to secure a 2–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russia 0-2 Portugal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/3787459.stm |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 June 2004}}</ref> In the quarter-finals against England, again as a substitute, he scored a long-range goal in extra time as the game finished 2–2 and went to penalties; he missed in the shootout but his team prevailed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Portugal break England hearts |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/3830451.stm |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 June 2004}}</ref>

Costa retired from international football after the unexpected defeat to the Greeks again in the [[UEFA Euro 2004 final|Euro 2004 final]].<ref>{{cite news |title=United want Rui Costa |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2004-07-27-united-want-rui-costa/ |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=Mail & Guardian |date=27 July 2004}}</ref> He scored 26 goals in 94 games, making him the ninth-highest capped player and the seventh-highest goalscorer.<ref name="Portugal - Record International Players">{{cite web|title=Portugal – Record International Players|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/port-recintlp.html|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=24 July 2015}}</ref>

== Style of play ==
Costa is considered by pundits to have been one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, as well as one of Portugal's best players ever, and was regarded as one of the best playmakers in the world in his prime.<ref name="Best Portuguese Players"/><ref name="Greatest Playmakers">{{Cite web |title=20 Greatest Playmakers in the History of World Football |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1007318-world-football20-greatest-playmakers-in-the-history-of-football |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Bleacher Report}}</ref><ref name="Rui Costa Euro 2000"/><ref name="maestro"/><ref name="Pele" /><ref name="Bridging the generation gap">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/291678/bridging-the-generation-gap|title=Bridging the generation gap|publisher=ESPN FC|last1=Brewin|first1=John|date=16 February 2004|access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref> A [[Squad number (association football)|classic number 10]], he usually played in a creative role as an [[attacking midfielder]] behind the strikers, but was also capable of playing in midfield as a [[deep-lying playmaker]], as a [[second striker]], or as a [[Winger (association football)|winger]]. A quick, technically gifted and elegant player, throughout his career, he was renowned for his excellent [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills, close control, intelligent movement, vision, and precise passing, which made him an effective [[Assist (association football)|assist]] provider, and enabled him to create space for his teammates, or orchestrate his teams' attacking moves. Although he was mainly known to be a creative team player, he also possessed an eye for goal from midfield, and was an accurate striker of the ball with either foot, in particular from outside the area. He was also an accurate [[Free kick (association football)|free kick]] and [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] taker.<ref name="Rui Costa Euro 2000"/><ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Manuel Rui Costa">{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/archive/show_player/Manuel-Rui-Costa|title=AC Milan Hall of Fame: Manuel Rui Costa|publisher=AC Milan|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=archive.thedailystar.net>{{cite news|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2003/05/28/d30528041033.htm|title=KEY MEN|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=28 May 2003|access-date=7 November 2015|archive-date=7 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107085134/http://archive.thedailystar.net/2003/05/28/d30528041033.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Champions' League fina">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/champions-league-final-how-the-old-trafford-teams-shape-up-591267.html|title=Champions' League final: How the old trafford teams shape up|newspaper=The Independent|date=27 May 2003|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="FIFA">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2008/m=6/news=rui-costa-portugal-prince-793719.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923224254/http://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2008/m=6/news=rui-costa-portugal-prince-793719.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 September 2016|title=Rui Costa, Portugal's prince|publisher=FIFA.com|date=9 June 2008|access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="Real challenge">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/nov/17/championsleague.sport6|title=Real challenge for Rui Costa is to beat Spanish at their own game|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 November 2002|access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="Golden Generation">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/28/sports/golden-generation-must-first-beat-world-champion-france-can-portugal.html|title='Golden Generation' Must First Beat World Champion France : Can Portugal Go the Full Distance?|newspaper=The New York Times|last1=Hughes|first1=Rob|date=28 June 2000|access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="Perfect 10">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/my-perfect-10-rui-costa|title=My Perfect 10: Rui Costa|magazine=FourFourTwo|last1=Cox|first1=Michael|date=1 September 2010|access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/novembre/14/Batistuta_manca_una_casella_ga_0_9811141586.shtml|title=A Batistuta manca una casella|trans-title=Batistuta still has one box to tick off|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|last1=Calamai|first1=Luca|date=14 November 1998|access-date=27 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/primi_piani/calcio/2004/pp_1.0.479511270.shtml|title=Supersheva, Supercoppa Milan|trans-title=Supersheva, Milan Supercup|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=21 August 2004|access-date=8 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/a-tribute-to-manuel-rui-costa-the-maestro-who-made-fiorentina-milan-portugal-tick/ |title=Manuel Rui Costa, 'The Maestro' who made Fiorentina, Milan & Portugal tick |publisher=Planet Football |last1=Beresford |first1=Jack |date=21 June 2019 |access-date=29 June 2020 }}</ref> Despite his talent and ability, however, he was also known for being inconsistent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/zizou-laudrup-baggio-bergkamp-best-playmakers-90s/ |title=10 of the best playmakers of the 90s: Zizou, Laudrup, Baggio, Bergkamp... |publisher=Planet Football |last1=Storey |first1=Daniel |date=5 February 2020 |access-date=29 June 2020 }}</ref>

== Media ==
Costa was sponsored by American sportswear company [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] and appeared in Nike commercials.<ref name="Jackson"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Nike and Maven Networks Introduce JogaTV |url=http://nikego.com/media/pr/2006/04/17_jogaTV.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130024001/http://nikego.com/media/pr/2006/04/17_jogaTV.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 January 2013 |work=Nikego |publisher=Nike |date=17 April 2006 |access-date=21 February 2015 }}</ref> In 1996, he starred in a Nike commercial titled "Good vs Evil" in a gladiatorial game set in a [[Roman amphitheatre]]. Appearing alongside football players from around the world, including [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]], [[Paolo Maldini]], [[Eric Cantona]], [[Luís Figo]] and [[Patrick Kluivert]], they defend "[[The Beautiful Game]]" against a team of demonic warriors, before it culminates with Cantona striking the ball and destroying evil.<ref name="Jackson">{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Steven J.|title=Sport, Culture and Advertising: Identities, Commodities and the Politics of Representation|date=10 November 2004|publisher=Routledge|page=186}}</ref> Rui Costa features in [[EA Sports]]' [[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA football video game series]]; he was included in the Ultimate Team Legends in ''[[FIFA 16]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.easports.com/fifa/ultimate-team/news/2015/fifa-16-fut-legends|title=FIFA 16 Ultimate Team™ – New Legends|publisher=EA Sports|date=1 September 2015|access-date=8 September 2015}}</ref>

== Post-playing career ==

=== Sporting director ===
The day after his last professional match, Costa was presented as [[director of football]] at Benfica. During the summer 2008 transfer window, Costa brought head coach [[Quique Sánchez Flores]], playmaker [[Pablo Aimar]], winger [[José Antonio Reyes]], and striker [[David Suazo]], the latter two on loan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/rui-costa-assume-clube-e-sad-o-delfim-que-demorou-13-anos-a-chegar-ao-cargo-desejado-13924269.html|title=Rui Costa assume clube e SAD. O delfim que demorou 13 anos a chegar ao cargo desejado|website=dn.pt|date=9 July 2021 }}</ref> The following Summer, Costa tried to strengthen the team after a disappointing league campaign the previous season;{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} he signed striker [[Javier Saviola]], attacking midfielder [[Ramires]], and defensive midfielder [[Javi García]], led by manager [[Jorge Jesus]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Saviola : "Venho para ser campeão"|trans-title=Saviola : "I am here to be champion"|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=401848|work=Record|access-date=15 December 2012|date=28 June 2009|language=pt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416113955/http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=401848|archive-date=16 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/esportes,cruzeiro-confirma-venda-de-ramires-para-o-benfica,374797,0.htm|title=Cruzeiro confirma venda de Ramires para o Benfica|publisher=Estadão|access-date=22 May 2009|date=21 May 2009|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chegou o dia de Javi|trans-title=It has arrived the day of Javi|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=404320|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416134252/http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=404320|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2013|work=Record|access-date=15 December 2012|date=20 July 2009|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Benfica confirma Jesus para duas épocas|trans-title=Benfica confirm Jesus for two seasons|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=385627|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416130010/http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=385627|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2013|work=Record|access-date=15 December 2012|date=16 June 2009|language=pt}}</ref> Benfica would win the [[2009–10 Primeira Liga]], the first league title since [[2004–05 Primeira Liga|2004–05]], and the [[2009–10 Taça da Liga|Taça da Liga]] that season, defeating Porto in the [[2010 Taça da Liga final|final]].

=== Administration ===
On 14 May 2008, Costa was appointed an administrator of Benfica [[Sociedade Anónima Desportiva|SAD]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/detalhe/rui_costa_e_o_novo_administrador_do_benfica|title=Rui Costa é o novo administrador do Benfica|publisher=Jornal de Negócios|access-date=13 October 2021|date=14 May 2008|language=pt}}</ref> For the 2020–24 quadrennial, he became a vice-president of the club's board of directors, as part of [[Luís Filipe Vieira]]'s list for a sixth consecutive mandate.<ref>{{cite news|date=29 October 2020|title=2020 Elections: Luís Filipe Vieira re-elect|url=https://www.slbenfica.pt/en-us/agora/noticias/2020/10/28/clube-benfica-eleicoes-2020-orgaos-sociais-quadrienio-2020-2024-votacao|website=S.L. Benfica|access-date=13 October 2021}}</ref> After acting as interim president of the club and its SAD from 9 July 2021,<ref>{{cite news|date= 9 July 2021|title=Statement|url=https://www.slbenfica.pt/en-us/agora/noticias/2021/07/09/clube-benfica-comunicado-rui-costa-assume-presidencia|work=S.L. Benfica|access-date=15 July 2021}}</ref> in the aftermath of Vieira suspending his presidency due to arrest in operation ''Cartão Vermelho'' (Red Card),<ref>{{cite news|date=9 July 2021|title=Luís Filipe Vieira suspende funções de presidente|trans-title=Luís Filipe Vieira suspends functions of president|url=https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2021-07-09/luis-filipe-vieira-suspende-funcoes-de-presidente/897300|language=pt|newspaper=A Bola|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712000201/https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2021-07-09/luis-filipe-vieira-suspende-funcoes-de-presidente/897300|archive-date=12 July 2021|access-date=15 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=AFP>{{cite news|date=10 October 2021|title=Rui Costa elected president of scandal-hit Benfica|url=https://www.barrons.com/news/rui-costa-elected-president-of-scandal-hit-benfica-01633856709|agency=Agence France-Presse|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> Costa was elected the 34th president of Benfica on 9 October, assuming office the following day. With 84.48% of the votes, he defeated candidate Francisco Benitez, who received 12.24%.<ref>{{cite news|date=9 October 2021|title=Eleições 2021: Rui Costa eleito Presidente|trans-title=2021 elections: Rui Costa elected president|url=https://www.slbenfica.pt/pt-pt/agora/noticias/2021/10/09/clube-benfica-eleicoes-2021-orgaos-sociais-quadrienio-2021-2025-votacao|language=pt|work=S.L. Benfica|access-date=13 October 2021}}</ref><ref name=AFP/>

During election campaign, Costa had pledged, among other promises, a forensic audit of the club's SAD (released in June 2024),<ref>{{cite news|date=15 June 2023|title=Resultados da auditoria em setembro; novos estatutos votados em julho|trans-title=Audit results [to be presented] in September; new statutes [to be] voted in July|url=https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2023-06-15/benfica-resultados-da-auditoria-em-setembro-novos-estatutos-votados-em-julho/992027|language=pt|work=A Bola|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> a revision of the club's statutes (the board's first proposal, criticised by the Commission for Revision of the Statutes,<ref>{{cite news|last=Soares|first=Pedro|date=16 July 2023|title=Comissão de Revisão dos Estatutos critica proposta da Direção|trans-title=Commission for Revision of the Statutes criticizes Board's proposal|url=https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2023-07-16/benfica-comissao-de-revisao-dos-estatutos-critica-proposta-da-direcao/996598|language=pt|work=A Bola|access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref> was made available on 14 July 2023,<ref>{{cite news|date=14 July 2023|title=Proposta de revisão de Estatutos|trans-title=Proposed revision of the Statutes|url=https://www.slbenfica.pt/pt-pt/agora/noticias/2023/07/14/clube-benfica-documento-proposta-revisao-de-estatutos|language=pt|work=S.L. Benfica|access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref> and a final one was voted and approved on 8 March 2025),<ref>{{cite news|date=13 March 2025|title=Estatutos do Benfica: a história completa|trans-title=Benfica's statutes: the complete history|url=https://www.abola.pt/futebol/noticias/estatutos-do-benfica-a-historia-completa-2025031316014931386?srsltid=AfmBOooUkSZ94FwZE1KJbo5Saoyc_-jdw5jgJdQrcNO1L23wYz2iv3sW|language=pt|newspaper=A Bola|access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref>  transparency regarding football transfers, retention of players "made in [[Futebol Campus|Seixal]]", a reduction of the number of players, a [[maximum wage]] for players, and improvements to Estádio da Luz.<ref>{{cite news|date=8 October 2021|title=Tudo o que precisa de saber sobre as eleições do Benfica|trans-title=All you need to know about Benfica elections|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/tudo-o-que-precisa-de-saber-sobre-as-eleicoes-do-benfica|language=pt|work=Sapo Desporto|access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>

Including his interim role, the [[2021–22 S.L. Benfica season|men's football team]] was trophyless under his first year of presidency. Back in January 2022, Costa had said that his signature on player contracts under investigation by authorities in ''Cartão Vermelho'' did not imply he was in collusion with anyone.<ref>{{cite news|date=12 January 2022|title=Rui Costa e o seu nome nos contratos: "Não implica que eu estivesse em conluio"|trans-title=Rui Costa and his name on contracts: "It does not imply that I was in collusion|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/benfica/detalhe/rui-costa-e-o-seu-nome-nos-contratos-nao-implica-que-eu-estivesse-em-conluio|language=pt|work=Record|access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref> During the 2022–23 winter [[transfer window]], Costa promised not to release central midfielder [[Enzo Fernández]] unless a club paid the player's [[buyout clause]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Nogueira|first=Carlos|date=4 January 2023|title=Enzo num impasse. Chelsea resiste a pagar 120 milhões|trans-title= |url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/enzo-num-impasse-chelsea-resiste-a-pagar-120-milhoes-15600151.html|language=pt|work=Diário de Notícias|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref> but Fernández left Benfica via negotiation on 31 January 2023, with Benfica paying to "intermediary services" for the transfer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://web3.cmvm.pt/sdi/emitentes/docs/FR84638.pdf |title=Benfica's announcement to the CMVM (in Portuguese) |access-date=1 February 2023 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531032119/https://web3.cmvm.pt/SDI/emitentes/docs/FR84638.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> After signing with [[Roger Schmidt (footballer)|Roger Schmidt]], Benfica's first non-Portuguese manager since Flores, the club won the [[2022–23 Primeira Liga]], ending a four-year trophy wait. Benfica started the next season by winning the Portuguese Super Cup, but failed to win any other trophy, despite an investment of €100 million.

== Personal life ==
Costa was married to Rute from 1994 to 2013 and fathered two sons.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mulher de Rui Costa avança para o divórcio|trans-title=Rui Costa's wife files for divorce |url=https://www.vidas.pt/a-ferver/detalhe/mulher-de-rui-costa-avanca-para-o-divorcio |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=Vidas |date=11 October 2013 |language=Portuguese}}</ref> The elder, Filipe, is CEO of Footlab, a [[Sports agent|football agency]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Filho de Rui Costa denuncia ameaças de morte e desativa redes sociais|trans-title=Rui Costa's son denounces death threats and deactivates social media |url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/filho-de-rui-costa-denuncia-ameacas-de-morte-e-desativa-redes-sociais-13939846.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=Diário de Notícias |date=14 July 2021 |language=Portuguese}}</ref> while the younger, Hugo, is a footballer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duarte |first1=Mário |title=Hugo Costa é reforço: Filho do presidente do Benfica vai começar nos sub-23|trans-title=Hugo Costa is an addition: Benfica president's son will start in the under-23 team|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/e--amadora/detalhe/hugo-costa-e-reforco-filho-do-presidente-do-benfica-vai-comecar-nos-sub-23 |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=Record |date=23 June 2022 |language=Portuguese}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==

=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/players/ruicosta-in-ec.html "Matches in European Cups"]. [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]. Retrieved 8 July 2012.</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Taça de Portugal]], [[Coppa Italia]]}}
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA#Club|Europe]]
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[A.D. Fafe|Fafe]] (loan)
|1990–91
|[[Segunda Divisão]]
|38||6||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||38||6
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]
|[[1991–92 S.L. Benfica season|1991–92]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Primeira Liga]]
|21||4||3||0||7{{efn|Appearances in [[European Cup]]}}||0||1{{efn|name=SCO|Appearance(s) in [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]]}}||0||32||4
|-
|[[1992–93 S.L. Benfica season|1992–93]]
|23||4||4||1||4{{efn|name=UC|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0||1{{efn|name=SCO}}||0||32||5
|-
|[[1993–94 S.L. Benfica season|1993–94]]
|34||5||3||1||8{{efn|name=UCWC|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||4||2{{efn|name=SCO}}||0||47||10
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!78!!13!!10!!2!!19!!4!!4!!0!!111!!19
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]]
|[[1994–95 AC Fiorentina season|1994–95]]
|rowspan="7"|[[Serie A]]
|31||9||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||9
|-
|[[1995–96 AC Fiorentina season|1995–96]]
|34||4||7||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||41||6
|-
|[[1996–97 AC Fiorentina season|1996–97]]
|28||2||1||0||8{{efn|name=UCWC}}||0||1{{efn|name=SCI|Appearance in [[Supercoppa Italiana]]}}||0||38||2
|-
|[[1997–98 AC Fiorentina season|1997–98]]
|32||3||5||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||5
|-
|[[1998–99 AC Fiorentina season|1998–99]]
|31||10||7||4||1{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|—||39||14
|-
|[[1999–2000 AC Fiorentina season|1999–2000]]
|30||4||4||0||14{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||2||colspan="2"|—||48||6
|-
|[[2000–01 AC Fiorentina season|2000–01]]
|29||6||7||2||2{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|—||38||8
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!215!!38!!35!!10!!25!!2!!1!!0!!276!!50
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[AC Milan]]
|[[2001–02 AC Milan season|2001–02]]
|rowspan="5"|Serie A
|22||0||1||0||10{{efn|name=UC}}||3||colspan="2"|—||33||3
|-
|[[2002–03 AC Milan season|2002–03]]
|25||0||5||1||18{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||48||1
|-
|[[2003–04 AC Milan season|2003–04]]
|28||3||4||0||6{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||3{{efn|One appearance in Supercoppa Italiana, one appearance in [[UEFA Super Cup]], one appearance in [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]}}||0||41||3
|-
|[[2004–05 AC Milan season|2004–05]]
|24||1||4||0||9{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=SCI}}||0||38||1
|-
|[[2005–06 AC Milan season|2005–06]]
|25||0||3||3||4{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||32||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!124!!4!!17!!4!!47!!3!!4!!0!!192!!11
|-
|rowspan="3"|Benfica
|[[2006–07 S.L. Benfica season|2006–07]]
|rowspan="2"|Primeira Liga
|14||0||3||0||5{{efn|Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Cup}}||1||colspan="2"|—||22||1
|-
|[[2007–08 S.L. Benfica season|2007–08]]
|29||5||4||3||12||2||0||0||45||10
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!43!!5!!7!!3!!17!!3!!0!!0!!67!!11
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!498!!66!!69!!19!!108!!12!!9!!0!!684!!97
|}
{{notelist}}

=== International ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/port-ruicosta-intlg.html|title=Rui Manuel César Costa – Goals in International Matches|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
| rowspan="12"|[[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
| 1993 || 7 || 2
|-
| 1994 || 5 || 1
|-
| 1995 || 7 || 3
|-
| 1996 || 11 || 2
|-
| 1997 || 4 || 0
|-
| 1998 || 5 || 3
|-
| 1999 || 9 || 6
|-
| 2000 || 13 || 3
|-
| 2001 || 6 || 0
|-
| 2002 || 7 || 2
|-
| 2003 || 11 || 1
|-
| 2004 || 9 || 3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!94!!26
|}

: ''Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Costa goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Rui Costa<ref>{{cite web|title=RUI COSTA |url=https://www.fpf.pt/National-Teams/Football/Male/Senior-A/Players/Player-detail/Id/496480/SoccerType/11/sp/1/RUI-COSTA |publisher=Portuguese Football Federation |access-date=24 July 2015 }} {{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1
| 19 June 1993
| [[Estádio do Bessa]], Porto<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Portugal
| {{fb|Malta}}
| align="center"|2–0
| align="center"|4–0
| [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA&nbsp;– Group 1)|World Cup 1994 Qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|2
| 5 September 1993
| [[Kadrioru Stadium]], Tallinn<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Estonia
| {{fb|Estonia}}
| align="center"|1–0
| align="center"|2–0
| World Cup 1994 Qualifying
|-
| align="center"|3
| 7 September 1994
| [[Windsor Park]], Belfast<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Northern Ireland
| {{fb|Northern Ireland}}
| align="center"|1–0
| align="center"|2–1
| [[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying|Euro 1996 Qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|4
| rowspan="2"|15 August 1995
| rowspan="2"|[[Sportpark Eschen-Mauren]], Eschen<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Liechtenstein
| rowspan="2"|{{fb|Liechtenstein}}
| align="center"|3–0
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|7–0
| rowspan="2"|Euro 1996 Qualifying
|-
| align="center"|5
| align="center"|6–0
|-
| align="center"|6
| 15 September 1995
| [[Estádio da Luz (1954)]], Lisbon<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Portugal
| {{fb|Republic of Ireland}}
| align="center"|1–0
| align="center"|3–0
| Euro 1996 Qualifying
|-
| align="center"|7
| 24 January 1996
| [[Parc des Princes]], Paris, France
| {{fb|France}}
| align="center"|2–1
| align="center"|2–3
| [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|8
| 9 October 1996
| [[Qemal Stafa Stadium]], Tirana<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Albania
| {{fb|Albania}}
| align="center"|3–0
| align="center"|3–0
| [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|World Cup 1998 Qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|9
| rowspan="2"|19 August 1998
| rowspan="2"|[[Estádio de São Miguel (Ponta Delgada)]], Ponta Delgada<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Portugal
| rowspan="2"|{{fb|Mozambique}}
| align="center"|1–0
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–1
| rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|10
| align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|11
| 6 September 1998
| [[Puskás Ferenc Stadium]], Budapest<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Hungary
| {{fb|Hungary}}
| align="center"|3–1
| align="center"|3–1
| [[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying|Euro 2000 Qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|12
| rowspan="2"|31 March 1999
| rowspan="2"|Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, Eschen, Liechtenstein
| rowspan="2"|{{fb|Liechtenstein}}
| align="center"|1–0
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|5–0
| rowspan="2"|Euro 2000 Qualifying
|-
| align="center"|13
| align="center"|5–0
|-
| align="center"|14
| rowspan="2"|9 June 1999
| rowspan="2"|[[Estádio Cidade de Coimbra]], Coimbra<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Portugal
| rowspan="2"|{{fb|Liechtenstein}}
| align="center"|7–0
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|8–0
| rowspan="2"|Euro 2000 Qualifying
|-
| align="center"|15
| align="center"|8–0
|-
| align="center"|16
| 18 August 1999
| [[Estádio Nacional]], Lisbon<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Portugal
| {{fb|Andorra}}
| align="center"|1–0
| align="center"|4–0
| Friendly
|-
| align="center"|17
| 9 October 1999
| Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal
| {{fb|Hungary}}
| align="center"|1–0
| align="center"|3–0
| Euro 2000 Qualifying
|-
| align="center"|18
| 29 March 2000
| [[Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa]], Leiria<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Portugal
| {{fb|Denmark}}
| align="center"|1–1
| align="center"|2–1
| Friendly
|-
| align="center"|19
| 16 August 2000
| [[Estádio do Fontelo]], Viseu<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Portugal
| {{fb|Lithuania}}
| align="center"|3–1
| align="center"|5–1
| Friendly
|-
| align="center"|20
| 3 September 2000
| Kadrioru Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia
| {{fb|Estonia}}
| align="center"|1–0
| align="center"|3–1
| [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2002 World Cup Qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|21
| 10 June 2002
| [[Jeonju World Cup Stadium]], Jeonju<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, South Korea
| {{fb|Poland}}
| align="center"|4–0
| align="center"|4–0
| [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|22
| 16 October 2002
| [[Ullevi]], Gothenburg<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Sweden
| {{fb|Sweden}}
| align="center"|3–2
| align="center"|3–2
| Friendly
|-
| align="center"|23
| 11 October 2003
| [[Estádio do Restelo]], Lisbon<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Portugal
| {{fb|Albania}}
| align="center"|3–2
| align="center"|5–3
| Friendly
|-
| align="center"|24
| 29 May 2004
| [[Estádio Municipal de Águeda]], Águeda<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->, Portugal
| {{fb|Luxembourg}}
| align="center"|3–0
| align="center"|3–0
| Friendly
|-
| align="center"|25
| 16 June 2004
| [[Estádio da Luz]], Lisbon, Portugal
| {{fb|Russia}}
| align="center"|2–0
| align="center"|2–0
| [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]]
|-
| align="center"|26
| 24 June 2004
| Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
| {{fb|England}}
| align="center"|2–1
| align="center"|2–2
| Euro 2004
|}

== Honours ==
'''Benfica'''
* [[Primeira Liga]]: [[1993–94 Portuguese Liga|1993–94]]<ref name="bi">{{cite magazine|date=May 2015|title=Bicampeões para a história|trans-title=Back-to-back champions for the ages|language=pt|magazine=[[Visão]]|location=Portugal|publisher=Impresa Publishing|page=59|issn=0872-3540}}</ref>
* [[Taça de Portugal]]: [[1992–93 Taça de Portugal|1992–93]]<ref name="bi"/>
* [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]] runner-up: [[1991 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|1991]], [[1993 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|1993]]

'''Fiorentina'''
* [[Coppa Italia]]: [[1995–96 Coppa Italia|1995–96]], [[2000–01 Coppa Italia|2000–01]]
* [[Supercoppa Italiana]]: [[1996 Supercoppa Italiana|1996]]

'''AC Milan'''<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Manuel Rui Costa"/>
* [[Serie A]]: [[2003–04 Serie A|2003–04]]
* Coppa Italia: [[2002–03 Coppa Italia|2002–03]]
* Supercoppa Italiana: [[2004 Supercoppa Italiana|2004]]
* [[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League|2002–03]]; runner-up: [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League|2004–05]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pt.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025d-0f782b45c942-3e20b8c30dfa-1000--miracle-of-istanbul-an-oral-history-of-liverpool-s-2005-champio|title=Miracle of Istanbul: An oral history of Liverpool's 2005 Champions League final|publisher=UEFA|date=27 May 2020}}</ref>
* [[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2003 UEFA Super Cup|2003]]
* [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]] runner-up: [[2003 Intercontinental Cup|2003]]

'''Portugal U20'''
* [[FIFA World Youth Championship]]: [[1991 FIFA World Youth Championship|1991]]
* [[Toulon Tournament]]: [[1992 Toulon Tournament|1992]]<ref name="RSSSF">{{cite news |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toulon.html |title=Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon&nbsp;– Official Player Awards |date=18 June 2015 |access-date=2 April 2016}}</ref>

'''Portugal'''
* [[UEFA European Championship]] runner-up: [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004]]

'''Individual'''
* Toulon Tournament Best Player: 1992<ref name="RSSSF"/>
* Toulon Tournament top goalscorer: 1992<ref name="RSSSF"/>
* [[UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament]]: [[UEFA European Championship Teams of the Tournament#England 1996|1996]],<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/491990.pdf | title = UEFA Euro report | publisher = [[UEFA]]}}</ref> [[UEFA European Championship Teams of the Tournament#Belgium and Netherlands 2000|2000]]<ref name="auto"/>
* [[FIFA|FIFA XI]]: 1998<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033752/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html|url-status=dead|title=Matches of FIFA XI|archive-date=17 November 2015|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref>
* UEFA Champions League top assist provider: [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League#Top assists|2002–03]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/Statistics/Players/TypeStat%3DA/index.html |title=UEFA Champions League Player's Statistics |publisher=UEFA |access-date=27 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030827230359/http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/Statistics/Players/TypeStat%3DA/index.html |archive-date=27 August 2003 }}</ref>
* [[FIFA 100]]<ref name="Pele">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm|title=Pele's list of the greatest|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 March 2004|access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>
* [[FIFA World Player of the Year]]: [[2001 FIFA World Player of the Year|2001]] (12th place)<ref>{{Cite web |last=AS |first=Diario |title=Clasificación final del FIFA World Player 2001 |url=https://as.com/futbol/2001/12/17/mas_futbol/1008543636_850215.html |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=as.com |date=17 December 2001 |language=es}}</ref>
* [[Ballon d'Or]]: [[1996 Ballon d'Or|1996]] (26th place),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy96.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1996|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> [[2000 Ballon d'Or|2000]] (24th place),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy00.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 2000|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> [[2001 Ballon d'Or|2001]] (25th place)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy01.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 2001|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref>
* [[SJPF Player of the Month]]: [[2007–08 Primeira Liga#Monthly awards|September 2007]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Rui Costa venceu o prémio KIA / Jogador do Mês |url=https://sjpf.sapo.pt/default.aspx?ctrl=noticiasdetalhe&id=5621&inter=0 |website=sjpf.sapo.pt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009083040/http://sjpf.sapo.pt/default.aspx?ctrl=noticiasdetalhe&id=5621&inter=0 |archive-date= 9 October 2011 |access-date=2 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Cosme Damião]] Awards – Footballer of the Year: 2007<ref>{{cite news |date=29 February 2012 |title=Gala do Benfica: Aimar distinguido como o melhor de 2010/11 |trans-title=Benfica's gala: Aimar distinguished as the best of 2010–11 |url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/gala-do-benfica-aimar-distinguido-como-o-melhor-de-2010-11 |language=pt |website=Maisfutebol |access-date=1 March 2016 |quote=Rui Costa (2007)}}</ref>
* Eurochampion Prize Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year - 2000-01<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rui Costa premiado como o melhor estrangeiro em Itália |url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/detalhe/rui-costa-premiado-como-o-melhor-estrangeiro-em-italia |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=www.record.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref>
* AC Milan Hall of Fame<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Manuel Rui Costa"/>
* Fiorentina All-time XI<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiorentina.it/it/news/articolo.37.51489/festa-al-franchi-presenti-e-assenti-no-eccellenti-da-rui-costa-baggio-e-batistuta.html|title=Festa al Franchi, presenti e assenti. No eccellenti da Rui Costa, Baggio e Batistuta|trans-title=Celebration at the Franchi, for both present and absent. Excellent absentees from Rui Costa, to Baggio and Batistuta|publisher=Fiorentina.it|author1=Matteo Magrini|language=it|date=23 August 2016|access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref>
* [[IFFHS]] Portugal All-time XI<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1828|title=IFFHS men's all time Portugal dream team|website=IFFHS}}</ref>
* [[Globe Soccer Awards]] Portugal Best Ever XI<ref>{{Cite web |title=Portugal's Best-ever XI 🇵🇹 Would you make any changes? ✍️ |url=https://twitter.com/Globe_Soccer/status/1573591462075408388 |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=Twitter}}</ref>
* [[Association of Football Statisticians|AFS]] Top-100 Players of All Time #85: 2007<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFS Top-100 Players of All-Time |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afstop100.html |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref>
* [[The Guardian]] Serie A Best Team of the 90s<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Serie A team of the 1990s {{!}} Serie A {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2018/aug/31/serie-a-team-of-the-1990s |access-date=2023-01-29 |newspaper=The Guardian|date=31 August 2018 }}</ref>
* Serie A Team of the Season 1994–95,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-24 |title=Serie A Team of the Season {{!}} 1994/95 |url=https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2020/03/serie-a-team-of-the-season-1994-95/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Forza Italian Football}}</ref> 1998-99,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rui Costa presente no "onze" da Série A |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/detalhe/rui-costa-presente-no-onze-da-serie-a |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=www.record.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref> 2000-01<ref>{{Cite web |title=Figo eleito melhor jogador português no estrangeiro - Internacional - Jornal Record |url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/detalhe/figo-eleito-melhor-jogador-portugues-no-estrangeiro |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Record}}</ref>

'''Orders'''
* [[File:PRT Order of Prince Henry - Officer BAR.svg|60px]] Officer of the [[Order of Prince Henry]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=153 |title=Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas |language=pt |trans-title=Portuguese Honorary Orders |publisher=Presidency of the Portuguese Republic |access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|title=Os Magníficos: Rui Costa, o grande maestro do futebol português|trans-title=The Magnificents: Rui Costa, the great maestro of Portuguese football|date=2008|publisher=QuidNovi|isbn=978-989-554-499-8|edition=First}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.slbenfica.pt/en-us/instituicao/clube/historia/presidentes/rui-costa Profile] at the S.L. Benfica website
* {{FPF national player}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{UEFA player}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=President of [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]|before=[[Luís Filipe Vieira]]|after=''Incumbent''|years=2021–present}}
{{s-end}}

{{Navboxes
| title=Awards
| bg=gold
| fg=navy
| bordercolor=black
| list1=
{{UEFA Euro 1996 Team of the Tournament}}
{{UEFA Euro 2000 Team of the Tournament}}
{{S.L. Benfica Player of the Year}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title=Portugal squads
| bg=#B50000
| fg=gold
| bordercolor=#006600
| list1=
{{Portugal squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
{{Portugal squad UEFA Euro 2000}}
{{Portugal squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Portugal squad UEFA Euro 2004}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Costa, Rui}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Amadora]]
[[Category:Portuguese men's footballers]]
[[Category:Portugal men's international footballers]]
[[Category:S.L. Benfica footballers]]
[[Category:AD Fafe players]]
[[Category:ACF Fiorentina players]]
[[Category:AC Milan players]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1996 players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2000 players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:S.L. Benfica presidents]]