Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro Costa has officially terminated his contract with South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, becoming the first footballer to leverage the groundbreaking Lassana Diarra ruling against FIFA.
The 26-year-old attacker, who scored the goal voted best at the FIFA Club World Cup against Borussia Dortmund in June, is now pursuing legal protection to secure his career after a dramatic fallout with the African champions.
Ribeiro is represented by Belgian lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont, the legal heavyweight behind the famous 1995 Bosman case and currently the lead counsel for former French midfielder Lassana Diarra. In October, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled in Diarra’s favor, declaring that FIFA’s transfer rules hinder the free movement of professional players within the EU.
That ruling, now shaking the foundations of world football, has already forced FIFA to revise its regulations. It is also opening new legal pathways for players like Ribeiro, who claims Mamelodi Sundowns repeatedly blocked a lucrative transfer to Qatar SC by inflating his price and ignoring his personal career interests.
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“The club’s actions made the deal impossible,” Ribeiro said in a statement. “Following the Diarra ruling, I am confident this dispute will not stand in the way of my career. FIFA’s updated regulations ensure my international transfer certificate will be issued without delay once a new employer requests it.”
Ribeiro, who had a contract running until 2028, terminated the deal on August 1, citing no alternative but to protect his interests through FIFA’s tribunal system. He has already attracted interest from clubs in Europe and the Middle East, signaling that his next move could come sooner rather than later.
Legal experts note that this case could become a major precedent in global football. Diarra’s battle with FIFA began in 2014 when his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow ended and FIFA denied him an international transfer certificate to join Belgian side Charleroi. The CJEU later ruled that FIFA’s stance violated EU law, a decision now reverberating across the sport.
Dupont, Ribeiro’s lawyer, revealed that Qatar SC had tabled an offer well above the Brazilian’s market value, but Sundowns’ demands derailed the deal. With the Diarra ruling now reshaping football’s legal framework, Ribeiro insists his next club will not face sanctions or financial penalties tied to his fallout with Sundowns.
“I will now evaluate what is best for my career’s future to make the right decision,” Ribeiro said. “Most importantly, my new employer will not be dragged into this dispute. I just want to focus on football.”
The Brazilian’s bold step signals a new era where players may increasingly challenge restrictive transfer practices. For Mamelodi Sundowns, however, the exit of one of their brightest attacking talents could mark the beginning of a long legal storm.