Luis Figo
Portuguese winger who won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year, known for his controversial transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid.
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo (Portuguese pronunciation: [luˈiʃ ˈfiɣu]; born 4 November 1972) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a winger for Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan. He won 127 caps for the Portugal national team, a one-time record. 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. He ranks second for the all-time Portuguese top assist providers in the UEFA Champions League (15). Figo won the 2000 Ballon d'Or, 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, and in 2004 Pelé named him in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. Figo is one of the few football players to have played for both Spanish rival clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid. His transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 set a world record fee of €62 million.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo
- Born
- 4 November 1972
- Birthplace
- Almada, Portugal
- Height
- 1.80 m / 5 ft 11 in
- Position
- Winger
- Total caps
- 570
- Total goals
- 93
Lore & Background
Figo had a very successful career highlighted by several trophy wins, including the Portuguese Cup, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, one Champions League title, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, four Serie A titles, one Italian Cup, and three Italian Super Cups. At international level, he scored 32 goals for Portugal, representing the nation at three European Championships and two World Cups, helping them reach the final but finish as runners-up at Euro 2004, as well as reaching the semi-finals at the 2006 World Cup. In his first season with Madrid, Figo won the 2001 La Liga title, scoring 14 goals in all competitions. For his performances at Real, he was designated the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year.
Reader's Guide
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. 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. Figo commented: 'I was worried that some madman might lose his head.' This time, Figo had decided that he would take corners, as well as throw-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. 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. 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.
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.
Did You Know?
- Figo began his career as a street footballer at Os Pastilhas before joining Sporting CP's academy at age 12.
- He played futsal in his youth, which helped him develop skills for his later career.
- He was named by Marca as a member of the 'Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history' in April 2013.
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