Eduardo Costa 2004 May 2026

The 2004 final is still remembered not for the football, but as the day a gas station attendant almost won a championship, armed with nothing but a borrowed jersey and a terrible secret.

The match was abandoned. Flamengo were declared winners by forfeit. The Brazilian football federation slapped Fluminense with a massive fine and a points deduction for the following season. Eduardo Costa, the real one, was banned for an additional 12 matches for his complicity (he later claimed he knew nothing, but few believed him). eduardo costa 2004

Chaos erupted. Fluminense’s bench went pale. Coach Abel Braga buried his face in his hands. The police were summoned onto the pitch. Under frantic questioning, the imposter crumbled. The 2004 final is still remembered not for

The turning point came in the 67th minute. A Flamengo player shoved "Costa" after a bad tackle. The real Costa would have headbutted him. Edson just raised his hands apologetically and backed away. The referee, Paulo César de Oliveira, grew suspicious. He called "Costa" over. The Brazilian football federation slapped Fluminense with a

"My name is Edson…" he sobbed. "The real one is suspended. They told me no one would find out."

Edson, the gas station attendant, became a bizarre folk hero. He was banned from all football activity for five years, but he sold his story to a TV show, bought a small bar, and for a while, was the most famous imposter in Brazil. He was dubbed "Costa Falso" — Fake Costa.

Edson was approached by a low-level club functionary with an offer: "Want to play in the Maracanã final? Just stand in midfield and don't speak to the press." For a poor kid whose only dream was to touch the hallowed grass, it was a devil's bargain. He said yes.