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Douglas Costa. Photo by Rufus46.

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Douglas Costa

Douglas Costa de Souza is a Brazilian professional footballer who currently plays for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy as a winger. He is well-known for his dribbling abilities, as well as his speed, acceleration, and crossing ability.

Costa began his career with Grêmio before joining Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of €6 million in January 2010. With Shakhtar, he won numerous trophies, including a domestic treble in 2010-11. (Premier League, the Ukrainian Cup and the Super Cup).

He joined Bayern Munich for €30 million in 2015, where he won two consecutive league titles. In 2017, he was loaned to Juventus, where he won the domestic double in his first season. On 7 June 2018, Juventus made his loan move permanent; he added two more consecutive league titles, as well as a Supercoppa Italiana title, in his next two seasons with the club. Costa returned to Bayern Munich on loan on the final day of the 2020 summer transfer window.

Costa has been a full international since 2014, representing Brazil in the 2015 Copa América and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

1. Douglas Costa was born in Sapucaia do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul

Douglas began his career with Grêmio at the age of 11, having been born in Sapucaia do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. On 4 October 2008, he made his club debut at the age of 18 in a 2-1 victory over Botafogo, scoring his first goal for the club in the same match.

He finished the 2008 season with one goal in six appearances. In a 0-0 draw with Fluminense on June 14, 2009, he was shown a red card. On November 29, 2009, he scored the opening goal in a 4-2 win over Grêmio Recreativo Barueri. 

On January 10, 2010, he joined Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk. He appeared in 37 games for Grêmio, including 28 league games, and scored twice.

2. Costa signed a five-year contract with Shakhtar Donetsk

That contract was for €6 million. On February 18, he made his UEFA Europa League debut against English club Fulham, which Shakhtar lost 2-1. In the 75th minute, he came on as a substitute to replace Jádson.

On February 25, he made his home debut as a 53rd-minute replacement for Willian, assisting Jádson for Shakhtar’s equalizer in a 1-1 draw. Shakhtar was defeated 3-2 on aggregate. On 14 March 2010, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win over Metalist Kharkiv.

3. He won the Premier League in 2009-10

Douglas Costa. Photo by Rufus46.

Douglas made 15 appearances for Shakhtar in his first season, including 13 league appearances, scoring five league goals. Shakhtar won the Premier League in 2009-10, Costa’s first trophy with the club.

4. Costa was given the number 11 jersey at Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich signed Costa for a fee of €30 million. Costa agreed to a five-year deal. Bayern Munich’s €30 million transfer fee was the fourth-highest in the club’s history. He was given the number 11 shirt that Xherdan Shaqiri had previously worn.

He made his debut as a starter on August 1, 2015, away to VfL Wolfsburg in the 2015 DFL-Supercup, crossing for Arjen Robben to open the scoring in an eventual 1-1 draw; he netted his penalty shootout attempt, but his team lost nonetheless.

5. Costa joined Juventus on loan in 2017

Douglas Costa. Photo by Granada.

On 13 August, he made his club debut, coming on as a substitute in a 3-2 defeat to Lazio in the 2017 Supercoppa Italiana. On 14 October, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 home defeat to Lazio. In his debut season, he scored four goals in Serie A in 31 appearances, and two goals in five appearances in the Coppa Italia recording six goals in 47 appearances across all competitions as Juventus won the domestic double; he also led the league in dribbles (106) and second-most assists in Serie A.

6. Juventus made Costa’s loan move permanent in 2018

Douglas Costa. Photo by Granada.

Juventus signed him to a four-year contract worth €40 million plus bonuses. In a 2-1 home win over Sassuolo in Serie A on September 16, 2018.

7. Costa got into a fight with Federico Di Francesco, which landed him in hot water

Following a late challenge on Di Francesco by Costa, the two players clashed in the build-up to Sassuolo’s 91st-minute consolation goal, scored by Khouma Babacar. As both players stood up, Costa appeared to elbow Di Francesco and then headbutt him before spitting in his face. Costa was initially booked for the headbutt, but the contentious incident was later reviewed by VAR officials, who alerted the referee to his subsequent actions, and he was sent off as a result.

8. Costa was called up to the Brazil national team for the first time in 2014

Douglas Costa. Photo by Granada.

The coach Dunga in November 2014, asked Costa to play for the Brazil national team, making his debut against Turkey in Istanbul. Costa was named to Brazil’s 23-man squad for the 2015 Copa América in May 2015.

9. He is dubbed one of the best wingers in the world

Despite not being particularly prolific in front of goal, he is highly regarded for his crossing ability from the left flank, which makes him an excellent assist provider Guardiola, his former Bayern Munich manager, once called him “one of the best wingers in the world.” Despite his talent, managers and pundits have questioned his discipline, mentality, and consistency at times. 

10. Costa is known as the “flash”

Douglas Costa. Photo by Rufus46.

Costa was considered a promising prospect in his youth and was named to Don Balón’s list of the 100 best young players born after 1989 in 2010. He began his career as a forward or attacking midfielder, but later established himself as a versatile winger.

He’s capable of playing on either flank and adapting to several different formations, due to his energy and work-rate, as well as his powerful and accurate striking ability from distance with either foot; however, he usually prefers the right wing, as it allows him to cut into the box. Costa is known as the “Flash” because of his speed, agility, and strength.