Portuguese soccer star dies at 53 after cardiac arrest

"Throughout his life, both on and off the pitch, Jorge Costa embodied the values that define FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion and an unshakeable spirit of conquest," the club said in a statement on Tuesday. "He left his mark on generations of fans and became a symbol of Portismo."

Costa played 530 games in all competitions including 383 for Porto and 50 for Portugal's national team.

As captain, he led Porto to UEFA Cup glory in 2003 and a Champions League triumph in 2004 under manager Jose Mourinho.