Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says Lucas Ribeiro Costa is a clear candidate for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Footballer of the Season award.
Costa, 26, has been one of the standout players for Sundowns who has scored a record 57 goals in just 25 league games this season, with the Brazilian contributing 20 of those, with 13 goals and seven assists.
However, he’s now gone five games without a goal in the league, but that hasn’t stopped Cardoso from backing him for the highest individual accolade in South African football.
“He will probably be elected Player of the Season with the stats he has, the numbers he has this season is amazing, on goals and assists, and quality action, I think he’s a player that brings something different to the pitch,” Cardoso said.
“I’m happy to have him, and [him on the bench] was literally a question of managing [his minutes] and I think now that people are choosing Player of the Season, makes him want to show something he doesn’t need to show. He’s shown already a lot of times, that will come naturally [his form returning], for sure.”
Sundowns are coasting to their eighth consecutive league title and are in the final of the CAF Champions League this season, as they search for the title that’s eluded them since winning their first star in 2016.
Costa has been at the heartbeat of their 2024/25 season and Cardoso emphasised that for all the contributions from his teammates, as a team sport, Costa also showed plenty of individual brillance that bragged the club to important victories this season.
“If we see the goals he’s scored, the beautiful goals he scored, the moments he’s carried the team forward, it’s a team that promotes a player but also Lucas had moments where he helped the team a lot,” he explained.
“For me he is the favourite candidate, I don’t see anyone expressing the level as Lucas did for so long and even in the previous year.
“It’s important to say, we relate to this season but he’s been consistent in the last years and he’s brought, expressed things very difficult to see, that has to do with the work of the team but also due to his own capacity. I will be very happy [if he wins it] because it’s completely fair if he becomes the player of the season.”
Costa has scored 32 goals with 20 assists in 81 games across all competitions since joining Sundowns from Belgian club SK Beveren in July 2023.
