Legendary goalscorer Da Costa passes away at 89

The club is mourning the loss of Dino Da Costa, one of its greatest-ever goalscorers.

Da Costa passed away on Tuesday. He was 89.

Among fans, the striker is perhaps most famous for his goalscoring record in the derby - scoring 12 against Lazio in all competitions during his time with the Giallorossi.

From the 1950s into the early 1960s, Da Costa was one of the main attacking threats Roma could call upon. Technically brilliant - he was born in Brazil, after all - he also had a powerful shot, and was invariably a dangerous threat in the air too.

He came to the attention of Roma back in the summer of 1955, when his Botafogo side - which also featured Garrincha - came to Europa and beat the Giallorossi 3-2 in a friendly.

A few weeks later, Da Costa - who had scored 24 goals in 26 games to finish top scorer back in his home country that season - was a Roma player.

The rules of the time prevented non-Italian players from playing in the league - but Da Costa, who had family from Palombara, not only fell within the rules, but was also eligible to represent Italy (which he subsequently did).

In truth, though, he was the first Brazilian to represent the club - paving the way for so many other greats to come, from Paulo Roberto Falcao to Marcos Cafu and Aldair.

He was not a true No. 9, but he nonetheless finished as capocannoniere in 1956-57 with 22 goals. It was something Roma fans had not seen since 1935 (when Enrique Guaita hit the mark), and something only a select group of forwards - Manfredini, Pruzzo, Totti, Dzeko - have done for the club since.

With 79 goals in 163 games, he still sits 10th on the club's list of all-time leading goalscorers.

Rest in peace, Dino.