"Jorge Costa. Wow, we were the same age. It's too early."

On the day that funeral ceremonies began for Jorge Costa following his unexpected death at the age of 53, Pedro Ribeiro joined the many people who expressed their support on social media about his sudden departure.

"There was a time when football players were the same age as me. Yesterday I thought about that, when the news came of the death of the legendary Jorge Costa. 1971-2025. Wow, 1971, we are, we were, the same age. It's too early for the news that Jorge Costa died. 53 years old, he would have turned 54 in October," Pedro Ribeiro began by reflecting.

"I think the emotion, sadness and genuine respect everyone had for Bicho [as he was affectionately known], people from all clubs, shows what a giant this central defender was, this leader, this captain, as all team captains should be," he added.

"Today your city, Porto, woke up sad, with a heavy heart. But the sky will be blue and white, when, soon, the Estádio do Dragão opens its doors to all those who wish to pay tribute to this unique captain of FC Porto," he wrote later, referring to the final farewell to the former footballer.

The public farewell ceremony for the former Portuguese international will begin at 3:00 p.m. this Wednesday, August 6, at Estádio do Dragão. The stadium's doors will be open for members, fans, and the general public to pay their respects, and the stadium will close at 10:00 p.m.

FC Porto's football director died at the age of 53 following cardiac arrest. Farewell ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. this Wednesday at Estádio do Dragão.

Carlos Pereira Fernandes | 07:39 - 06/08/2025

"I'm not a Porto fan, and I've spoken to Jorge Costa two or three times in my life. But if I weren't so far away, I'd go there today, to Dragão. I feel that urge to pay tribute to someone who was truly special, great, immense. I send a hug to all Porto fans. The Beast always crossed himself when entering the field. Those who have faith look at the moment of his farewell as if they were about to cross a passage, to the other side. His leadership emanated from his mere presence on the field. He commanded respect with just his look. And his shout was a thunderclap that united the team. A watchtower, always alert," said Pedro Ribeiro in the same publication.

"This morning I played the song Ribeira, by Jafumega, which talks about the dawn in Porto and crossing to the other side. Have a good trip to that other side, Jorge Costa. Wherever you find yourself in the football fields, the forwards are made: because, with you on the field, the forward already knew that if you stay, the beast will catch you, if you run, the beast will eat you. Forever Jorge Costa, the central defender" , can be read, finally, in the share of the director of Rádio Comercial.

Jorge Costa died on Tuesday, August 5th, after suffering cardiorespiratory arrest while at the Dragons' training center. He was then rushed to São João Hospital in Porto, where he was pronounced dead.

According to a source from Hospital de São João, the former FC Porto footballer "went into cardiorespiratory arrest in the emergency room and died".

The Dragons' football director suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest at the club's training center and was urgently transported to São João Hospital in Porto, where he later died.

Carlos Pereira Fernandes | 2:44 PM - 08/05/2025

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