2026 World Cup is the Goalkeepers' Tournament, and Diogo Costa Shines: "I'd Give Him the Golden Glove"

While strikers continue to decide matches, the 2026 World Cup has seen one position increasingly steal the spotlight: the goalkeeper. For Ricardo Rebelo-Gonçalves, a goalkeeping coach and author of the book The Goalkeeper Also Plays, this tournament edition is confirming the growing importance of shot-stoppers, both in top national teams and less prominent squads.

"This World Cup is truly highlighting the importance of goalkeepers. In the first phase, we saw some errors in build-up play, largely due to the insistence on associative play and the obligation to play short. However, since then, we've witnessed the real significance of the goalkeeper, particularly those capable of holding their team together when the opponent is on top and creating imminent scoring opportunities," he emphasized.

The coach noted that the position's growth is evident even in less prominent national teams, citing examples like Eloy Room (Curaçao), Al Owais (Saudi Arabia), Alireza Beiranvand (Iran), and Vozinha (Cape Verde), all of whom have stood out throughout the competition.

"Even in countries where football isn't as deeply ingrained and training conditions aren't as good, this evolution has arrived. Many of these goalkeepers compete in foreign leagues, and their development as senior athletes has seen a significant qualitative improvement. Furthermore, the preparation for these types of tournaments is truly intense. We're talking about players who already possess remarkable competitive levels, which is why we see competitive matches and goalkeepers stepping up and delivering in these contexts."

Among the performances that impressed him most, Ricardo Gonçalves highlighted several names, but placed Diogo Costa in a very special category. "I'd single out Diogo Costa's performances, both against Colombia and Croatia. In a team with some defensive weaknesses, Diogo Costa steps up and has been a guarantee of confidence, security, and keeping the team alive. Alisson also surprised me with the renewed confidence and assurance he exuded. Then, Vozinha left his mark on this World Cup, and his impact is undeniable. Bono continues to demonstrate a well-studied strategy in penalty shootouts, and Dibu Martínez and Pickford have also shown the importance a goalkeeper can have on collective performance."

Analyzing the Portuguese custodian, the expert believes this World Cup represents his definitive emergence at the highest level. "Diogo Costa is using this World Cup as his stage for affirmation. He's reaching a world-class competitive level and maturity. From a footwork perspective, he's extremely complete. Defensively, he's fantastic in one-on-one situations. He has tremendous instinct, excellent communication with the defensive line, and extraordinary stability in his positioning."

"If there were doubts regarding his performance on crosses, today there isn't such a big difference compared to Diogo's overall level. He's more aggressive in aerial duels, more assertive, and it all stems from a much more focused positioning to read and identify indicators for effective decision-making. If there were doubts about how prepared he was for other leagues, this World Cup is dispelling any uncertainty. He is, effectively, one of the best goalkeepers in the world."

When asked who would deserve the Golden Glove if the tournament ended now, Ricardo Gonçalves admitted to some patriotism but didn't hide his choice. "I can't help but have some bias here because my Portuguese blood makes me experience the game differently. But, given the impact he's had, I'd give it to Diogo Costa."