Lucas Ribeiro Costa has suddenly found his name thrust into the mainstream media in Brazil following his first match at the FIFA Club World Cup.
While the show put on by Ribeiro in the 1-0 win over Ulsan HD enthralled those back home, it is what he has been doing regularly for his employers throughout the two years that he has been at Mamelodi Sundowns that is of note.
He arrived at the USA tournament with 20 goals and assists through the 2024/25 campaign.
In the early hours of Wednesday with all of Brazil watching in the country’s four time zones, he provided the assist which won the game.
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Even with the other two goals correctly disallowed, it was his left foot with the crispy assists and was involved in just about all of Sundowns’ attacking raids.
Grupo Globo – the biggest media group in Latin America – took notice, singling out Ribeiro as a threat to Fluminense, who are in the same group.
"The star of the team is Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro, a native of Maranhão, who left Brazil early and made his career in lower-tier clubs in France and Belgium.
"At 26 years old, Lucas Ribeiro was born in Santa Helena, about 117 km from São Luís, and is the number 10 for Mamelodi Sundowns, from South Africa, which is in Group F of the World Cup.
"The midfielder wears the number 10 jersey and leads all of Mamelodi's offensive actions, with great passing ability.
"He provided the assists for striker Rayners' three goals - one was disallowed due to a handball and the other was offside.
"As a very mobile center forward, Arthur Sales (another Brazilian, this one formerly of Vasco) leaves the area all the time and creates several spaces for Rayners to attack, who in turn is usually supplied by Lucas Ribeiro.
"This seemed to be Mamelodi's main play.
"It's worth keeping an eye on," wrote the publication on their football section after the match against Ulsan HD.
Photo: Megan Briggs
