Lucas Ribeiro Costa has touched down in the USA ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with Brazilian interest on what he has done at Mamelodi Sundowns.
Ribeiro was the best player not only at Sundowns but across the Betway Premiership during the 2024/25 season as the Chloorkop-based club lifted their eighth consecutive league.
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His contribution was 20 goals and 13 assists across all competition throughout a campaign in which the Tshwane giants finally reached the CAF Champions final at their ninth attempt since being crowned continental champions.
For Ribeiro, he also carried the heaviest load of minutes at the club through both domestic and continental competitions.
The Brazilian went up to 3796 minutes in the 48 appearances that he made for the club.
This means the only occasions he wasn’t used was when he was rested or had to sit out one match for accumulating four yellow cards.
Fellow Brazilian and former Moroka Swallows midfielder Igor Alves – who is now with Club World Cup Brazilian giants Flamengo – has taken notice of Ribeiro.
"He did well this season," notes Alves, who is a professional scout for Brazil’s most popular club.
"The scouting department worked very well.
"Lucas’ move to Sundowns added a lot," adds Alves, noting that Flamengo is due to depart for the US on Wednesday.
Alves spent three years at Swallows, where he won the 2009 Nedbank Cup.
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As Sundowns get down to preparations in USA with their first match in Group F a week away, the contrary is that while Ribeiro has had 3796 minutes, Lebogang Mothiba has had the least.
Mothiba only played once, which was in the CAF Champions League final when he got 12 minutes.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
