The Complex Legacy of Diego Costa: Career Highlights and Controversies

Diego Costa enjoyed a remarkable career that extended over nearly two decades. Throughout this time, he had multiple tenures at Atletico Madrid, along with stints at notable clubs including Chelsea, Wolves, Botafogo, and Celta Vigo. Despite his numerous triumphs in La Liga, the Premier League, and various cup competitions, controversy often followed the Spain international. During his time in England, he faced multiple charges of violent conduct from the Football Association, with some incidents involving stamping and striking opponents. In December 2015, the French newspaper L’Equipe, citing Mundo Deportivo, even declared him the ‘most hated footballer’ due to his provocative behavior. However, Costa perceives his reputation differently.

While at Chelsea from 2014 to 2017, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry came to Costa’s defense, emphasizing that the forward maintained a cheerful demeanor off the pitch. Costa acknowledged that he, like anyone else, makes mistakes but emphasized that he has always retained the respect of his teammates. He stated to Sky Sports, “Wherever I have played, the teammates who know me and the people I’ve met still like me because they know what kind of person I really am. Sometimes people are given a reputation because the press and media portray them as having done something wrong, without knowing the full story. It would hurt me more if one of my teammates said I am a bad person. But I am a happy person, and I make mistakes like everyone else.”

In March 2020, Costa encountered Dutch journalist Hendriks after Atletico Madrid eliminated Liverpool from the Champions League at Anfield, marking the last match before the United Kingdom entered lockdown due to Covid-19. Hendriks, reporting for Dutch television, claimed that Costa approached her team and deliberately coughed in their direction following the match. Speaking on the HNM podcast, she expressed her outrage: “Ultimately, of all the people in that stadium, 41 died from Covid-19. First, I had Virgil van Dijk, then Diego Costa. He walked up and deliberately coughed in everyone’s face. I wanted to run after him and say, ‘What are you doing to me?’”

Hendriks recounted that Costa coughed directly in her face, and due to her connection to the camera equipment, she could not pursue him. She added, “I thought it was absolutely outrageous.”

Notably, just two days after this incident, Hendriks contracted Covid-19 but managed to recover and continue her work. While Costa, now 37, may soon face pressure to respond to this incident, he has not yet made any comment. The former Braga player last played for Gremio in late 2024, and although he has not officially announced his retirement, he has been absent from the sport for over a year.