Diogo Costa is a new hero in the ongoing Euro Cup. He becomes the first ever goalkeeper to have saved three spot-kicks in a single penalty shootout in the competition. 
The 31-year-old custodian warded off 13 of the 42 penalties he has faced, almost one in three. and it was only two years ago Costa created another milestone, saving three spot-kicks consecutively across three Champions League games. Nobody had ever saved three non-shootout penalties in a Champions League season before. 
However Diego had already proved his mettle as an young custodian of FC Porto. Legendary Spanish goalkeeper and Real Madrid great Iker Casillas who retired from club football career with Porto, had predicted six years ago that Costa would be his successor. He stated in 2018, “There is a star coming through. He is Diogo Costa. I think he’s going to be a superb goalkeeper.”
“Diogo! Diogo!” we called when Costa had finished talking to us, as he left his player-of-the-match trophy on stage in the media conference room.
“Ah,” he said, laughing, “winning is important.”
It was the first thing he let through his hands all night.
Commenting on the saves Costa revealed, “First of all, I thought, ‘I’ve got to stop this’,” was Costa’s matter-of-fact explanation when quizzed after the match. “I tried to read his body language and thankfully I managed to help the team. That’s my job.”
Whether it has been under the international radar or not, Costa has been doing this job for some time.