Figo won the2000 Ballon d'Or,2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, and in 2004Pelé named him in theFIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.[4] Figo is one of the few football players to have played for bothSpanish rival clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid. His transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 set aworld record fee of €62 million.[5] Figo, who was widely regarded as the face of Barcelona along withRivaldo at that time, had signed a conditional agreement withFlorentino Pérez, who at the time was running to become the president of Real Madrid.[6] In short, the agreement stated that if Pérez became the president of the club, Figo would sign for them. If Figo refused to leave Barcelona, he would have to pay a penalty fee of 5 billion pesetas (around £22 million or $34 million). If Pérez lost the election, Figo would keep 400 million pesetas (around £1.7 million)[6]
The only child of António Caeiro Figo and Maria Joana Pestana Madeira who moved fromAlentejo toLisbon in the early 1970s, Figo grew up in theworking-class district ofCova da Piedade,Almada. He began his career as a street footballer atOs Pastilhas, before joiningthe academy ofSporting CP at the age of 12.[7] In his youth, Figo playedfutsal from which he learned a lot of skills that helped him later in his career.[8]
Figo started his career at Sporting CP, making his league debut on 2 April 1990 during the1989–90 season as a substitute forMarlon Brandão in a 1–0 home win againstMarítimo.[9][10] On 7 December 1991, Figo scored his first goal againstTorreense in the1991–92 season, equalising as Sporting won 2–1. He won his first senior internationalcap in 1991. Prior to that, he won the 1991 FIFA Under-20 World Championships and Under-16 European Championships with Portugal junior sides alongsideRui Costa andJoão Pinto. He was also a significant part of Portugal's "Golden Generation". In his final season at Sporting he won the1994–95Portuguese Cup.[11]
In 1995, Figo looked poised to join one of the big clubs of Europe, but a dispute between Italian clubsJuventus andParma, with Figo having signed contracts with both clubs, resulted in an Italian two-year transfer ban on him. Eventually, Figo made a move to Spanish giantsBarcelona for a £2.25 million fee, being loaned back for the remainder of the season due to a rule prohibiting Portuguese players from signing for foreign clubs outside a fixed period. This rule had prevented Figo from joining English clubManchester City, where he had been recommended by his former Sporting managerMalcolm Allison for a fee of around £1.2 million.[12]
It was with Barcelona that Figo's career really took off, winning the1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, starring alongsideRonaldo, followed by successivePrimera División titles where he was part of a formidable attack that includedRivaldo andPatrick Kluivert. In total, Figo appeared 172 times in the league for Barcelona, scoring 30 goals. He was revered inBarcelona because his presence had given Catalonia a sense of external approval.[13]
In July 2000, Figo made a surprising and controversial €62 million move to Barcelona's bitter rivalsReal Madrid.[14] Real Madrid met the buyout clause in Figo's contract at Barcelona, a newworld record fee, and his arrival at Madrid signalled the beginning ofFlorentino Pérez'sGaláctico era of global stars signed by the club every year.[15] Figo became the new focus of the Barcelona–Real Madrid rivalry, with Barcelona fans feeling betrayed by his transfer and turning against him.[15] His move to Madrid was significant due to his status as a star player at Barcelona, reliable, and always committed to the cause as a team leader.[15] One of his Barcelona teammates stated, "Our plan was simple: give the ball to Luís. He never, ever hid".[15] Although now wearing the white shirt of Real Madrid, he won theBallon d'Or award in November 2000, largely for what he did for Barcelona, where he became the best in the world.[15]
By the second or third corner I turned to Luís Figo and said: 'Forget it, mate. You're on your own'. I used to offer Luís the chance to take the short corner, drawing up close to him near the touchline, but not this time. Missiles were raining down from the stands: coins, a knife, a glass whiskey bottle.Johnnie Walker, I think. OrJ&B. Best to keep away. Short corners? No thanks.
—Real Madrid teammateMichel Salgado on the vitriol aimed at Figo from Barcelona fans at theCamp Nou, 23 November 2002.[15]
When Figo returned to Barcelona for the first time in a Real Madrid shirt on 21 October 2000, the noise at theCamp Nou was deafening.[15] There were banners hung around the stadium with words like "Traitor", "Judas", "Scum", and "Mercenary".[15] Figo was mercilessly taunted throughout, and when he came out of the tunnel and ran onto the field the jeers of almost 98,000 Barcelona fans escalated, with a visibly shocked Figo putting his fingers to his ears.[13][15] WhenEl Clásico started, each time Figo got the ball the noise rose with insults and missiles flying such as oranges, bottles, cigarette lighters and mobile phones.[15] The regularcorner taker for Madrid, Figo did not take any corners at the Camp Nou to avoid being in proximity to the fans.[15] Barcelona were victorious, winning 2–0, and Real Madrid PresidentFlorentino Pérez stated after the match, "The atmosphere got to us all."[15] Madrid defenderIván Campo commented,
"That night when Figo first went back was incredible. I’ve never heard anything like it. Luís didn't deserve that. He'd given his all for Barcelona. It was built up before: 'a traitor’s coming,' the media said. No, Luís Figo is coming, one of the greats for you. That night hurt him, you could see. His head was bowed and he was thinking: 'bloody hell, I was here last season ...' But my lasting emotion was admiration: you’ve got balls."[15]
Figo's2000 Ballon d'Or. He received the award for his displays throughout the year for Barcelona and then Madrid.
In his first season with Madrid, Figo won the2001 La Liga title, scoring 14 goals in all competitions. For his performances at Real, he was designated the 2001FIFA World Player of the Year.[11] He would be joined at the club byZinedine Zidane in the middle of 2001, and in the following season Madrid won the2001–02 UEFA Champions League.[11] He missed two fixtures against Barcelona through injury and suspension.[16]
Figo's second game back at the Camp Nou, on 23 November 2002, produced one of the defining images of the Barcelona–Real Madrid rivalry.[15] There was no sign of the hatred or the hurt subsiding, and every time he came within range of the Barcelona fans, beer cans, lighters, bottles and golf balls flew.[15] Figo commented: "I was worried that some madman might lose his head."[15] This time, Figo had decided that he would take corners, as well asthrow-ins, and midway through the second half Madrid won a corner. Amid a shower of flying objects, it took Figo two minutes to take it.[15] Another corner followed on the other side, and as Figo walked across, he slowed to pick up the missiles and as he prepared to take the corner he moved away some of the debris while giving an ironic thumbs-up and smiling.[15] Every time he began his run-up to take the corner, another missile would land which was repeated over and over, until the referee Luis Medina Cantalejo suspended the game for almost 20 minutes.[15] During the break in play, the defining image of the rivalry, a pig's head, was picked up on camera, which was in among the debris near the corner flag.[17]
Figo would spend five seasons at Madrid, with his final success being the2003 La Liga title. In April 2013, Figo was named by the sports newspaperMarca as a member of the "Best foreign eleven inReal Madrid's history".[18]
Figo in 2009. He spent four seasons at Inter from 2005 to 2009.
Figo left Real Madrid to join the Italian clubInter Milan in the middle of 2005 on afree transfer after his contract with Madrid had expired. This meant that Figo would finally be able to play for a club inItaly, something he had the chance to do before his move to Barcelona, but was scuppered due to a dispute between the two clubs interested, Juventus and Parma. During the middle of 2008, Figo's compatriotJosé Mourinho joined Inter as manager. This has been said to please Figo, as he would have several Portuguese teammates during the remainder of his stay at Inter. On 16 May 2009, Figo announced his retirement from football, the same day Inter won the2008–09 title, and re-confirmed this on 30 May; his final game was on 31 May againstAtalanta at theSan Siro. AtJavier Zanetti's insistence, Figo captained the side for his last match. He received a standing ovation from the crowd as he was substituted byDavide Santon. The free-kick he scored in extra time againstRoma during theSupercoppa Italiana was his most memorable moment in Italy.[19][20]
Figo's number 7 Inter jersey next toRonaldo (number 10) andZamorano (one plus eight) in the San Siro museum
Figo said: "I am leaving football, not Inter." He was interviewed by the Inter Channel after his last game against Atalanta, and also said: "I hope to be able to help this club to become even greater also after my retirement. I will certainly work for Inter in the future on the club board. I never imagined that I was going to remain here for such a long time. What I will never forget is the love that I have received since my first day here from my teammates and presidentMassimo Moratti. I will never forget it; Inter has given me the chance to start a winning cycle with some extraordinary people."[21] Figo was on the sidelines when Inter won the2009–10 UEFA Champions League on 22 May 2010.
The leader ofPortugal's "Golden Generation", Figo won aFIFA World Youth Championship in1991, the same year he made his senior debut againstLuxembourg on 16 October 1991, in a friendly match that ended 1–1 when he was only 18 years old. His first goal equalised in a 2–1 friendly victory overBulgaria inParis on 11 November 1992. Figo scored three goals in eightqualifying games forUEFA Euro 1996, as his country reached the continental tournament for the first time in 12 years. In the finalgroup game at the tournament, againstCroatia at theCity Ground inNottingham, Figo opened a 3–0 victory with a fourth-minute strike; the result sent Portugal into the quarter-finals as group winners ahead of their opponents.[22]
Figo featured in all ten of Portugal'squalifiers forthe next European Championship, scoring three times in the process. On 12 June 2000, in their opening game of the tournament inEindhoven, he scored Portugal's first goal as they came from behind to beatEngland 3–2, again advancing as group winners to be eliminated in the semi-finals.[23] He was rested byHumberto Coelho for the final group match againstGermany inRotterdam, breaking a chain of 32 consecutive international appearances.[24] His onlyhat-trick for the national team came on 15 August 2001, when he netted all of the goals in a 3–0 friendly victory overMoldova at theEstádio de São Luís inFaro.[25]
With six goals in nine matches, Figo helped Portugalqualify for the2002 FIFA World Cup; on 2 June 2001, in the qualifier against theRepublic of Ireland atLansdowne Road, he served as captain for the first time on his 74th cap and scored the equaliser for a 1–1 draw.[24] In their first World Cup since1986, Portugal sufferedgroup stage elimination while Figo failed to score a goal.
On 18 February 2004, Figo earned his100th cap in a 1–1 friendly draw with England at theEstádio Algarve, playing ascaptain despite regular skipperFernando Couto being in the starting line-up.[26] Later that year at the European Championship on home soil, he captained the side after Couto was dropped.[27] He announced his retirement from international football following theEuro 2004 final upset-defeat byGreece due to an alleged rift between him and national coachLuiz Felipe Scolari, although this was denied.[28] In June 2005, he reversed his decision and returned for the2006 World Cup qualifying wins againstSlovakia andEstonia under Scolari.[29]
Figo captained the squad during the 2006 World Cup, leading the team to the semi-finals. With three wins, Portugal finishedtop of their group and qualified for the knock-out rounds withMexico. They advanced past theNetherlands in the last 16, and defeatedEngland on penalties in the quarter-final. Figo did not take part in the shootout, having been substituted forHélder Postiga.[30] In the semi-final, Portugal was beaten byFrance courtesy of a penalty from his former club-mate and French captainZinedine Zidane. This was Portugal's best finish in 40 years. The third-place playoff caused some controversy as Figo did not start;Pauleta captained the team in his place. However, Portugal fell behind 2–0 to hostsGermany and Figo replaced Pauleta in the 77th minute, who handed him back the captain's armband to cheers from both Portuguese and German fans. Although Germany scored another goal shortly after Figo's entrance, he ended his final cap for his country on a high note by setting upNuno Gomes to head in an 88th-minute consolation goal,[31] thus passing his number 7 jersey down to his successor,Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite having no trophies to show for the "Golden Generation", Figo managed to captain the team to their best World Cup performance since theEusébio era in1966, as well as helping Portugal to their best-ever result in the UEFA European Championship until they won it in2016. He finished his international career with 127 caps and scoring 32 goals, and held the record until June 2016 for most appearances with the Portugal national team; he is also Portugal's fourth-highest all-time goalscorer.[11]
Figo is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest wingers in the history of the sport.[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] At his physical peak, Figo was a quick, elegant, highly skillful player with close control, acceleration, and adribbling ability that allowed him to frequently take on and beat defenders in one on one situations.[40][41] He would often employfeints to beat opponents, such asstepovers.[42][43] Although naturally right-footed,[44] he was capable of using either foot.[45] Figo was usually deployed as awinger in his early career,[46] where he was capable of providing severalassists,[47] due to his ability to providecurlingcrosses to teammates from the right flank,[41][48][49] or cut inside, drift onto the left, or link-up with midfielders, and create goalscoring opportunities.[41][50]
As he lost pace and mobility with age as his career advanced, he was deployed in aplaymaking role as anattacking midfielder, in particular during his time with Inter, where he excelled with his vision, intelligence and varied passing ability.[42][51][52][53] Although he primarily served as a creative player, he was also capable of contributing offensively with goals due to his powerful striking ability from distance,[40] as well as his accuracy fromfree-kicks andpenalties.[42] In addition to his football ability, Figo was also highly regarded for his leadership throughout his career.[42]
Figo has appeared in commercials for the sportswear companyNike.[54][55] In 1996, he starred in a Nike commercial titled "Good vs Evil" in a gladiatorial game set in aRoman amphitheatre. Appearing alongside football players from around the world, includingRonaldo,Paolo Maldini,Ian Wright,Eric Cantona,Patrick Kluivert andJorge Campos, they defend "the beautiful game" against a team of demonic warriors, before it culminates with Cantona striking the ball and destroying evil.[54][56] In a global Nike advertising campaign in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, Figo starred in a "Secret Tournament" commercial (branded by Nike as "Scorpion KO") directed byTerry Gilliam, appearing alongside football players such asThierry Henry,Ronaldinho,Francesco Totti,Roberto Carlos and Japanese starHidetoshi Nakata, with former player Eric Cantona the tournament "referee".[57][58] Figo features inEA Sports'FIFA video game series; he was named in the Ultimate Team Legends inFIFA 14.[59] In 2015, the arcade game companyKonami announced that Figo would feature in their football video gamePro Evolution Soccer 2016 as one of the new myClub Legends.[60] In 2018, Figo was added as an icon to the Ultimate Team inFIFA 19.[61] He has also taken part in several Iranian television shows such as Navad TV during the 2018 World Cup draw, together with Hamid Estili and former Hamburg player Mehdi Mahdavikia.[62]
In August 2022,Netflix launchedEl Caso Figo (The Figo Affair), a documentary about Figo's transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid.[63]
On 28 January 2015, Figo announced his intention to run against incumbentSepp Blatter for the position ofFIFApresident.[64][65][66] His endorsers includedJosé Mourinho andDavid Beckham.[67] In his manifesto, Figo mentioned his support for expanding the World Cup to 48-team finals tournaments, and promised greater investment in grassroots football and national federations.[67] Considered an outsider compared to Blatter and the other two candidates[67] –Michael van Praag andPrince Ali bin Hussein – Figo withdrew from the election campaign on 21 May, stating that he did not want to be given "absolute power".[68]
Figo is married to Swedish modelHelen Svedin. The couple had three daughters, Daniela (born in 1999), Martina (born in 2002), and Stella (born in 2004).[69]
While at Sporting, before leaving Portugal to sign with Barcelona, Luís Figo reached the 11th grade of formal education.[70] He finishedsecondary school (12th grade) in Portugal at the age of 38, in 2011, through the special New Opportunities (Novas Oportunidades) skills certification programme for adults, which was set up by his socialist acquaintanceJosé Sócrates when Sócrates was Prime Minister of Portugal.[71][72][73] He also studied business management through a nine-month course atIESE in Madrid.[74][70]
Figo is fluent in five languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English, Italian and French.[75] He has also congratulated his wife on her birthday on Instagram in Swedish, although he has never spoken the language in media appearances.[76]
Luís Figo also operates businesses in the hotel, fashion, catering, mining and wine sectors. He is co-owner of an upscale bar inVilamoura and an hotel inCarvoeiro, both located in theAlgarve region of Portugal.[78] In 2010, a year after leaving football playing, he attended the International Mining Fair in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and it was then that he decided to open a company to dedicate himself to themining business, Damash Assets, based inAlmada, which has earned him annual profits. His wife is his partner in the company Damash Assets.[79]
Figo is the founder of Network90, a private members' networking site for the Professional Football Industry.[80]
Figo is an ambassador for the Stop TB Partnership in the fight againsttuberculosis.[81] He works closely with Inter Milan, serving as an ambassador for the club at functions across Europe.[82][83] He is also a board member of theInter Campus charity project run by Inter Milan.[84]
In 2003, Figo established theFundação Luís Figo (Luís Figo Foundation) in Portugal, a charity which is headquartered in Lisbon and supports children withspecial needs and children subjected topoverty.[85][86][87][88][89]
^abJackson, Steven J. (10 November 2004).Sport, Culture and Advertising: Identities, Commodities and the Politics of Representation. Routledge. p. 186.
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