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The stage was set. It was 26 June 1991, under the lights of Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz, when Portugal’s young guns took to the pitch against Australia in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Youth Championship on home soil. Tension filled the air as more than 100,000 fans packed the stands to try and propel the reigning champions to a second successive final.
Rui Costa – a fresh-faced 19-year-old wearing the No5 on his back – picked up the ball midway inside the opposition half and drove towards the edge of the area before cutting inside his defender and rifling an unstoppable effort that sailed into the top-left corner of the Australian goal. The stadium erupted – Portugal were through to the tournament decider, where they would have the chance to go for glory in front of a home crowd and secure their second title.
You need look no further than Rui Costa’s sumptuous screamer to understand why the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ is renowned as the stage where stars are born. Almost exactly 13 years later, the midfield maestro would fire home an iconic thunderbolt reminiscent of his famous strike in the U-20 semi-finals, this time getting on the scoresheet for the senior national team on their way to registering a similarly dramatic win against England at the new Estadio da Luz in the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2004.
One player who featured alongside the future Benfica, Fiorentina and AC Milan star in both of those encounters was the legendary Luis Figo, who would go on to form a storied partnership with Rui Costa as part of Portugal’s golden generation.
The tandem took root in Saudi Arabia in 1989, as Portugal embarked on their quest to secure a maiden global title in the U-20 category. Two years later, with the backing of a home crowd and a majestic midfield comprising Figo, Rui Costa, Emilio Peixe and captain Joao Pinto, and under the tutelage of head coach Carlos Queiroz, Portugal’s breakout talents lit up the competition with a string of dazzling performances.
Their defence of the coveted crown began with three clean sheets in the group stage, as they recorded victories over the Republic of Ireland (2-0), Argentina (3-0) and Korea Republic (1-0). Mexico provided a sterner test in the quarter-finals, although the Portuguese eventually navigated their safe passage to the final four courtesy of an extra-time header from centre-forward Toni, which handed them a hard-fought 2-1 win. Then came Rui Costa’s moment of magic to decide the semi-final against Australia.
Awaiting As Quinas in the final were a Brazil side boasting the likes of Roberto Carlos, Giovane Elber and other rising stars. A staggering 120,000 people filled the Estadio da Luz, the biggest crowd in the competition’s history. An electrifying contest somehow ended goalless, and the fate of a generation hung on a penalty shoot-out.
Living up to their future stature as giants of the game, both Figo and Rui Costa took on the responsibility from 12 yards. Donning the No3 shirt, his hair blowing in the wind in the city that raised him and with the added pressure of having missed a penalty in the tournament curtain-raiser against the Republic of Ireland, Figo coolly converted the second of Portugal’s spot kicks. The decisive kick fell to Rui Costa, who made no mistake and sent the host nation into raptures.
The mercurial midfield duo had offered a glimpse of their talent that would come to define a generation, even if they would ultimately hone their craft in different positions.
Figo, who would go on to be named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001 as an attacking wing wizard known for getting chalk on his boots and tormenting his defender in 1v1s, played in the middle of the park at the 1991 youth tournament, initially gaining recognition for his driving runs and long-range passing.
Rui Costa, meanwhile, sat a little deeper than his creative counterparts, providing midfield balance and setting the team’s tempo by using his exceptional vision to orchestrate the play. They were, in many ways, the anchors of the side, affording vital support for captain Pinto and Peixe, who would claim the tournament’s Golden Ball award.
