What happened to former AC Milan star Rui Costa?

Portugal has had many great football players in its past, and Rui Costa is certainly one of them. The former midfielder was as gifted as they come and showed his class on many occasions. Join us as we take a look back at the life and career of Rui Costa.

Rui Costa, full name Rui Manuel César Costa, was born on 29 March 1972 in Amadora.

He took his first steps in football at Benfica's youth academy.

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He spent his first season (1990/91) as a professional, however, with A.D. Fafe on loan, making his mark and earning a place in the Benfica team the following season.

In 1991, he was one of the stars of Portugal's FIFA U-21 World Cup winning team, scoring his country's last penalty in the deciding shootout in the final.

After that, Rui Costa established himself in Benfica's first team, making a total of 85 appearances and scoring 13 goals for The Eagles, according to football website Transfermarkt.

He helped the Lisbon team win two trophies: the 1993 Portuguese Cup and the 1993/94 league title.

In mid-1994, Rui Costa's Benfica adventure came to an end when he was transferred to Italian club ACF Fiorentina.

In Tuscany, the playmaker continued to show his class, helping La Viola win two Italian Cups and an Italian Super Cup.

Rui Costa, who was constantly linked with a move to a bigger club, eventually joined AC Milan in 2001 for a transfer fee of €41.32 million (Transfermarkt). At the San Siro, he was reunited with his former coach at Fiorentina, Fatih Terim.

Rui Costa celebrated several successes with the Rossoneri, the greatest of which was the 2002/03 Champions League triumph.

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In total, he added five trophies to his tally in the Italian fashion capital.

In 2006, Rui Costa felt it was time to return home and signed a contract with Benfica, the club where it all began in his career.

His first season in Lisbon, however, was marked by injuries, which meant that he was unable to make the desired impact.

He did not win any more trophies with Benfica, but was voted the club's Player of the Year in 2007. In 2008, Rui Costa ended his professional career, which had lasted 18 years.

In that career, Rui Costa also served his country 94 times, scoring 26 goals (Transfermarkt).

Perhaps his best goal came against England at Euro 2004, when he fired a rocket past David James in the quarter-finals.

Immediately after his retirement, Rui Costa started working as sporting director at Benfica.

In July 2021, he was elected Benfica's 34th president, after his predecessor Luís Filipe Vieira was arrested for his involvement in operation 'Red Card'.

Following his appointment, Rui Costa managed to break Benfica's four-year trophy drought with the 2022/23 Portuguese league title.

On a personal level, he was married to Rute, but divorced in 2013.

The couple have two sons, Filipe and Hugo, the latter a footballer.

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Rui Costa has undeniably made his mark on Portuguese football and continues to do so from Benfica's boardroom.