Bright future ahead for Francisco Costa, the Best Young Player Presented by Lidl
04 Feb. 2025

The 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship was the first-ever to be co-hosted by three countries – Croatia, Denmark and Norway – and the 29th edition of the world handball flagship competition brought an award which aimed to reward the best young player in the competition.
The “Best Young Player Presented by Lidl” was the new award which will be presented to the best young player aged Under-21 at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, underlining the common values shared by the International Handball Federation (IHF) and its Official Fresh Food Partner, Lidl, in creating a path for the top young talent to be nurtured and developed.
Seven players were shortlisted for it after the preliminary round, but there was one which stood head and shoulders above the others, confirming his brimming potential on the biggest of stages.
After making his debut at the IHF Men’s World Championship at Poland/Sweden 2023, right back Francisco Costa confirmed his status as the next best thing at Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025, with a fantastic performance, lifting his side, Portugal, to their best ever finish in the competition, the fourth place.
“I don’t think I’ve really understood what we did yet. My parents have told me that people have been talking a lot about handball here in Portugal. I’m still not fully aware of what we did. Maybe in the next few days, when I’m with my friends and family, I’ll have a better understanding of what we did,” said Costa.
After the bronze medal match, where Portugal conceded a painful 34:35 loss against France, after Portugal’s right wing Antonio Areia missed the last shot of the regular time, Costa was confirmed as the recipient of the “Best Young Player Presented by Lidl” award, receiving a 5,000-euro voucher to be used in the shops of the IHF’s Official Fresh Food Partner, Lidl.
“I have a great team around me, which manages to help me develop. I have always tried to stay with my feet on the ground and handball is a team sport, you cannot do anything without my teammates. In the national team, it is different, because we represent Portugal and we give it our all, every time. We are a fantastic group together and we aim even higher,” added Costa.
Costa has been nothing short of outstanding at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, scoring 54 of Portugal’s 301 goals, being on the podium of the top goal scorer standings, with 54 goals, tied for the second place with Dika Mem. He also converted 69% of his shots and has 22 assists, having a direct hand in 77 of his team’s goals.