World Cup 2018 golden boot: Diego Costa on three goals after brilliant start against Portugal
The Spain striker is in the running for the coveted Golden Boot award handed out to the tournament’s top scorer
DIEGO COSTA has three goals in the World Cup after the group stage of the tournament.
He is making his second World Cup tournament appearance and is Spain's first-choice striker.
The combative forward plays his club football for La Liga side Atletico Madrid and offers something different in a Spanish team known for their intricacy and stylish football.
If Spain have hopes of regaining the World Cup they won eight years ago, Costa's goals will need to keep flowing as they have done in the group stages.
The goals
GOAL 1: Costa bullied Portugal defender Pepe to win the ball, then muscled his way through twisting in and out before a brilliant finish
GOAL 2: It was him again who scored Spain's second equaliser of the day, bundling home from a well-worked free-kick
GOAL 3: Costa's third of the tournament wasn't pretty, but it was effective. Against Iran, the ball rebounded off him into the back of the net to seal a 1-0 win
Domestic season
Costa was pushed out of Chelsea when the season started and returned to Atletico Madrid - but due to a transfer embargo was unable to feature for them until January.
He scored just three times in the league but scored crucial goals in the Europa League as Diego Simeone's team lifted the title.
Odds before the World Cup
Costa was 28/1 to win the golden boot before the tournament.
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Personal life
Little is known about Costa's love life but we do know he is very close to his family - including his twin brother, who he visits often.
But Costa did used to date Brazilian Michele Zuanne but she dumped him after discovering his attempts to cheat with Zuanne's sister back in 2014.