JOHANNESBURG – Brazilian striker Lucas Ribeiro Costa has formally resigned from Mamelodi Sundowns and taken his dispute with the club to the FIFA Football Tribunal, where he is seeking to end his contract.
The 25-year-old forward, who rose to international attention after scoring what was voted the best goal of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, walked out of Sundowns’ pre-season camp before escalating the matter to FIFA.
In a statement, Ribeiro maintained that he acted within his rights and is prepared to defend his decision before football’s global governing body.
“I believe that I have just cause to terminate my contract with Mamelodi Sundowns FC, which I will explain before the FIFA Football Tribunal,” Ribeiro said.
The Brazilian is also banking on recent legal developments, including the high-profile Lassana Diarra case at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which set new precedents on player contracts, to strengthen his case and clear the way for his next move in professional football.
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