Douglas Costa is a pure example of how football can take you all around the world. Currently, with Sydney FC, Costa is playing on the fourth continent, and A-League’s 100% accurate football predictions are interesting to follow.

It all started when he signed his first professional contract with the local club Gremio right before he turned 18. Costa had to fight for playing time but used every second on the pitch to show his talent and brilliance on the wing. Very soon he was targeted by international scouts, and after two years with Gremio, Costa moved to Shakhtar Donetsk for a €8 million fee.

Rise to stardom in Ukraine

Leaving a sunny home in Brazil for the cold Ukraine at the age of 20 is pretty difficult, but Costa was ready for the challenge. He had a slow start with Shakhtar but soon became a valuable asset in the team’s midfield. He developed into a great playmaker, and his impact on the team was instantly growing. 

In his second season in Donetsk, Costa won the treble, winning the Ukrainian Premier League, the Cup, and the Super Cup. The same season, he scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League against Braga and finished the campaign with 7 goals in 39 games.

He led the domestic league in assists in the 2013-14 season and by then was the team’s best player. The following season, Shakhtar was in excellent form, reaching the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League, where they met Bayern. Even though Bayern advanced with a dominant 7-0 win in the second leg, that matchup changed Costa’s career.

The move to Munich

Following that season and Costa’s excellent performance in Copa America, he signed a five-year, €30 million deal with Bayern Munich. The team was near the top of the football team rankings, and Costa’s transfer fee was the fourth-highest in the club’s history.

“A dream has come true for me today,” said Costa at the press conference following his signing.

Pep Guardiola already had plenty of options in the midfield, including Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thiago Alcantara, Xabi Alonso, and Javi Martinez, but had no doubts about bringing in Costa. Playing under Guardiola brought out full Costa’s potential, and his playmaking skills made everyone around him better.

He scored in his Bundesliga debut against Hamburg and had 12 assists in his first 13 games of the season. Unfortunately, he suffered a muscle injury, and his form dropped by the end of the season. However, he scored the crucial goal in the penalty shootout against Borussia Dortmund in the 2016 DFB-Pokal Final. 

Following that season, Carlo Ancelotti replaced Guardiola and Costa’s playing time decreased. He publicly spoke about that and the team sent him on a loan deal to Juventus. 

A New Beginning in Turin

The move to Juventus came at a perfect time for Costa. His playing time in Bayern barely existed, and he rejuvenated his career in Turin. Juventus paid a €6 million fee to get Costa for the remainder of the season. 

The Brazilian showed up ready and had a huge impact on the team. He scored six goals in 47 appearances in all competitions, including a goal in a 4-0 Coppa Italia final win over AC Milan. He also led Serie A in dribbles with 106 and finished second in the league with 14 assists.

Juventus’ management was impressed by Costa and signed him on a permanent deal, paying another €40 million to Bayern. The season did not start well for him as he received a four-game suspension following an altercation with Federico Di Francesco.

Despite that, Costa was still a fan favorite in Turin, and his playing style was highly appreciated, but things took a wrong turn as he suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the season.

In the 2019-20 season, Costa made his 100th appearance for Juventus and scored the first Champions League goal in the black-and-white jersey. Anyway, he couldn’t fully recover from injuries, and the following season, Juventus sent him back to Bayern on a loan deal.

Returning home and moving on with the journey

After one year in Munich, it was time for Costa to return home. He joined Gremio on a loan deal. He scored three goals in 28 appearances, and at the end of the season, Costa was on the move again.

At the beginning of 2022, Costa joined the LA Galaxy in the MLS. He scored 7 goals in 46 appearances for the Galaxy in a year and a half in Los Angeles. In 2024, Costa returned to his home country, this time in Fluminense. Following a short stint there by playing only 15 games, Costa signed with Sydney FC of the Australian A-League.

It is the beginning of a new chapter of his career. Returning to Europe at this age is not an option for Costa, but his football creativity is something that will be remembered. As long as he decides to take the football pitch, football fans will enjoy his playing style.