Hélder Costa

3.1. Benfica

Costa made his professional debut on August 11, 2012, with Benfica B in a 2012-13 Segunda Liga match against Braga B, playing as a winger for 72 minutes in a 2-2 draw. His first professional goal for Benfica B came on August 23, 2013, in a 3-0 home win over Portimonense. He scored eight goals that season, including one on November 23 in a 4-3 victory against Oliveirense, a game in which he was also sent off. On January 25, 2014, Costa made his debut for the Benfica first team in a 2013-14 Taça da Liga third-round match against Gil Vicente. He came on as a substitute for Miralem Sulejmani for the final 13 minutes of the 1-0 win at the Estádio da Luz. He did not participate further in the tournament, which Benfica ultimately won. On November 5, 2014, he scored a hat-trick in the Segunda Liga for Benfica B in a 5-1 home win against Olhanense.

3.2. Loan spells in Spain and France

On January 19, 2015, Costa was loaned to La Liga club Deportivo de La Coruña until the end of the season. During his time with the Galician club, he made six appearances, all coming off the substitutes' bench.

Following his spell in Spain, Costa joined Ligue 1 club Monaco on a one-year loan on July 10, 2015. He was signed alongside his Benfica teammates Cavaleiro and Silva. His first goal in Ligue 1 was scored on November 8, 2015, opening the scoring in a 3-1 away loss to Bordeaux. He also provided the assist for Kylian Mbappé's first-ever league goal for Monaco in a 3-1 victory against Troyes on February 26, 2016. In total, Costa played 28 times and scored 5 goals in all competitions for Monaco during the 2015-16 season, facing competition from players like Silva, Thomas Lemar, and Mbappé.

3.3. Wolverhampton Wanderers

On July 29, 2016, Costa moved to EFL Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan. He made his debut on August 6 as a substitute in a 2-2 draw against Rotherham United. His first goal for the club came in a 2-1 EFL Cup win against Cambridge United on August 23, and his first league goal followed on September 17 in a 2-0 win against Newcastle United at St James' Park. Costa was also highly praised for his performance against Premier League side Liverpool in the FA Cup, where Wolves achieved a surprising 2-1 victory at Anfield; Costa notably assisted both of Wolves' goals in that match.

On January 30, 2017, Wolves made Costa's transfer permanent, acquiring him for a fee of 13.00 M GBP, which was, at the time, the highest transfer fee ever paid by the club. Following the permanent transfer, he signed a four-and-a-half-year contract. In his first season, he scored 12 goals and provided eight assists across all competitions. For his contributions, he received several accolades at the annual end-of-season awards, including the 2016-17 Wolves Player of the Season Award, the Players' Player of the Year Award, and the Goal of the Season for a goal he scored against Cardiff City.

On November 22, 2017, Costa scored his first goal of the 2017-18 season in a 4-1 win against Leeds United. He played a key role in Wolves' Championship title victory, contributing five goals and six assists in the league during the season. Costa made his first Premier League appearance on August 11, 2018, in Wolves' opening match of the league season, a 2-2 draw against Everton. On December 29, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 3-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium. During the 2018-19 season, Costa made 30 appearances for Wolves across all competitions, helping the team secure a seventh-place finish, which was sufficient for qualification to the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.

3.4. Leeds United

On July 3, 2019, Costa joined Championship club Leeds United on loan for the 2019-20 season. As part of the agreement, Costa's move to Leeds was set to become permanent in July 2020 on a four-year contract for an approximate transfer fee of 15.00 M GBP or 16.00 M GBP. He was assigned the number 17 shirt, becoming the first player to wear it since 2014, as the club had previously retired the number.

Costa made his Leeds debut on August 4, 2019, in the team's Championship opening day 3-1 victory against Bristol City. He made his first start nine days later in the EFL Cup against Salford City, where he contributed two assists. He scored his first goal for Leeds on August 27 in an EFL Cup match against Stoke City, an equalizer that led to a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in normal time, though Leeds lost 4-5 in the shootout. On November 30, he scored his first league goal for the club in a 4-0 victory against Middlesbrough.

On July 7, 2020, Costa's transfer to Leeds became permanent under a four-year contract. Days later, Leeds earned promotion to the Premier League as EFL champions. Costa made his Premier League debut for Leeds on September 12, 2020, in the first match of the season against reigning champions Liverpool. He assisted Mateusz Klich's goal in a 4-3 defeat at Anfield. A week later, he scored a brace in Leeds's first home league win of the season, a 4-3 victory over Fulham. In October 2023, Costa left Leeds by mutual consent.

3.5. Subsequent career and loan spells

On August 31, 2021, Costa joined La Liga side Valencia on loan for the 2021-22 season.

In August 2022, Costa signed a loan deal with Al-Ittihad for the duration of the 2022-23 season, where he reunited with his former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, Nuno Espírito Santo. Costa scored his first goal for Al-Ittihad against Al Taawoun on December 26, 2022. He won the 2022-23 Saudi Pro League title with Al-Ittihad.

On July 30, 2024, Helder Costa successfully completed his medical at Estoril. The deal was officially announced on August 1, with Costa signing a one-year contract.

On January 23, 2025, Costa joined Chinese Super League club Yunnan Yukun.

4.1. Portugal youth teams

Despite being born in Angola, Costa began his international career representing Portugal. He played for the Portugal U-19 at the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. Although he did not score during the tournament, his team reached the semi-finals, and he was named in the Team of the Tournament. Costa also represented Portugal at the 2014 Toulon Tournament with the U-20 squad. He also played for Portugal's U-16, U-17, U-18, U-21, and U-23 teams.

4.2. Portugal senior national team

Costa received his first call-up to the senior Portugal squad ahead of the UEFA Nations League fixtures in October 2018. He made his senior international debut in a friendly match against Scotland at Hampden Park on October 14. Portugal won the match 3-1, and Costa scored the opening goal. Although Portugal went on to win the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League, Costa was not included in the squad for the final four tournament.

4.3. Angola national team

On March 16, 2021, Costa was called up to the Angola squad for matches in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification against the Gambia and Gabon. He was eligible to switch allegiances because his single appearance for Portugal was in a friendly match. He made his debut for Angola in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier at home against Egypt on November 12, 2021, where he scored the opening goal in a 2-2 home draw. By scoring on his debut for Angola, Costa became only the third footballer in history, after Alfredo Di Stéfano and José Altafini, to score a goal on his debut for two different senior national teams.

6.1. Club

6.2. International

Scores and results list Portugal or Angola's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Costa goal.