Mamelodi Sundowns: 4 Brazilians Who Were Signed by South Africa’s Brazilians

• Mamelodi Sundowns have signed numerous South American players over the years
• Lucas Ribeiro Costa has signed for Sundowns from the Belgian Second Division
• Fabio Costa only made one appearance in the league for Sundowns before he left

Mamelodi Sundowns are no strangers to buying players from South America.

Nicknamed the Brazilians for the colour of their football kit, they have also brought in a few players from the country itself.

Sports Brief looks at four players from Brazil who were signed by the South African side.

Lucas Ribeiro Costa

Having played for SK Beveren in Belgium’s Second Division, Costa was signed by Masandawana for the 2023/34 season.

An attacking midfielder, he scored 11 goals and notched up eight assists last season, Soccer Laduma reported.

Costa became the third signing for Sundowns ahead of the new season after Lesiba Nki and Junior Mendieta, but he isn’t the first Costa to play for the Brazilians.

A list of players who played for Inter Milan and AC Milan

Football

Fabio da Costa

One of the forgotten Brazilians who turned out for Sundowns is Fabio da Costa.

Signed in the 2006/7 season, Costa only made a single appearance in the league for the side. He also made one appearance in the ABSA Cup.

As noted by IOL, he was one of nine players who were put on the transfer list at the end of that season.

Ricardo Nascimento

Hailing from the coastal city of Ilhéus in Brazil, Nascimento enjoyed the most success of any Brazilian at the club.

The defender played 144 games for the Pretoria-based side and won five league trophies with them in the process.

After six seasons, he joined fellow DStv Premiership side Royal AM, but currently finds himself without a club, Transfermarkt noted.

Eduardo Ferreira

Another defender, Ferreira was signed from Ajax Cape Town in 2009.

He only made eight starts in three seasons with Sundowns before leaving in 2012.

His departure from the side wasn’t all smooth sailing, as Times LIVE reported that the side had to pay him a settlement after they didn’t register him for the new season, despite him being contracted for one more season.